“Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘See, I
have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting
men. March around the city once with all the armed men…’”
Joshua 6:2-3
The book of
Joshua represents a major milestone and transition in Scripture. For a
generation, the people of Israel had wandered through desert terrain awaiting
the divine permission to enter the Promised Land. Because of corrupted hearts,
save Caleb and Joshua’s family, the very people rescued from bondage in Egypt
were not allowed to physically reside in the land of Canaan (Deuteronomy 2:16).
It was only after the rebellious, stubborn individuals had passed away that the
covenantal recipients of God’s favor were allowed to trek into the Promised
Land. Moses, the great prophet and messenger of God, was disallowed admittance
into Canaan as well. He was the intermediary between God and the people, and his
separation from the Hebrew community was certainly hard for many to absorb. Just
before Moses’ death, Joshua was commissioned as his successor. The longtime, former
attendant to Moses (Numbers 11:28) had already proven himself a resilient,
brave soldier before formally assuming the reigns of leadership (Deuteronomy
3:21-22).
Israel’s
journey into Canaan confirms the work before the Hebrew people was a great one.
To rid the land of so many fortified, God-hating civilizations was a colossal
effort and not for the faint or faithless of heart. But the Scriptural account
of Joshua also verifies that God’s providential hand was needed for Israel’s
victories, and when the Lord’s supernatural aid was removed, as it was with
Achan’s sin in Joshua 7, the people experienced calamity and strife. When
viewed through the events of Joshua 6, the consideration of God’s providential
hand is fascinating for in this chapter of God’s Word the Lord prepared the Israelites
to destroy Jericho, one of the most problematic cities, militarily speaking, of
the Jordan Valley. Jericho’s vaulted, sturdy perimeter posed a serious
impediment to the Hebrew people, especially in light of the fact that the
Israelites were likely devoid of advanced weaponry since they had been reduced
to sojourners for an extended period of time.
In Joshua
6:2, God told Joshua that Jericho would soon fall right before Israel’s eyes.
The valor and combatant nature of Joshua must have been eager to learn the
Lord’s strategy for victory. Would Israel perform a frontal assault? Would they
somehow lure the citizens of Jericho outside the city and attack them in a
massive sword battle? No. God’s subsequent commands to Joshua involved having
the Hebrew people walk around Jericho for seven straight days. From a fighting
standpoint, this plan made no sense at all. Marching around Jericho would leave
Israel vulnerable to ridicule and mockery at best. At worst, the Hebrew people
might bear the brunt of aerial attacks from the citizens of Jericho.
Imagine what
questions must have been coursing through Joshua’s mind as he received this
holy decree. Would his own nation think he was delusional? Would he be forcibly
removed from his position? We do not read about any such misleading thoughts on
Joshua’s part. In fact, we read nothing at all about his feelings. This
inspirational leader confirms life is not best lived through feelings, but
faith. Without hesitation or reservation, Joshua immediately set out to make
the necessary preparations of God’s directive. He rallied the spiritual leaders
first, and then instructed all the Israelites in God’s pronouncement. And thus
Israel obeyed God’s unorthodox, unconventional directive.
It is so
tempting in moments like this account in Joshua 6 to ask, “Why?” Why parade
around Jericho for seven days and wait for some miraculous movement of God? Perhaps this story reminds us that the
encounters we surrender in following God lead to encounters that result in our
fervent praise of God. If Israel’s soldiers had charged Jericho with weapons
drawn and overtaken the city it would have been easy for the Israelite warriors
to assume their heroism was largely responsible for the triumph. Men would have
received the adoration and accolade. But to march around the city for seven
days and then end the exhibition with a war cry, only to see the walls of
Jericho supernaturally collapse meant the adoration and accolade rightly went
to God. It was God’s strength and blessing that brought about Israel’s victory.
Therefore, may this unorthodox, unconventional directive motivate us to always
yearn to give God the glory, rather than ourselves. Let us humbly submit to the
Lord’s will, whatever it may yield. To the Israelites, it meant entrusting
their lives to God and observing His unusual battle orders at Jericho. What
will our unorthodox, unconventional directive be? I don’t know. But let us
patiently wait for it, reverently accept it, and
wholeheartedly practice it so that God may receive the honor richly due
Him.
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