The Walls of Jericho
Devotions for Growing Christians
The Walls of Jericho
Hebrews 11:30 - “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days.”
Read Joshua 1-6.
Just about everyone has heard the “Bible story” of Joshua and the walls of Jericho, but this Bible event is no legend or myth!
About 40 years after the Hebrew people made their exodus from Egypt, they were ready to enter their new homeland. But Jericho, a large walled city, presented a major obstacle. Jericho was right in the middle of their path into the Promised Land. They needed to establish a beachhead, so Jericho had to go! Because the Israelites looked to the Lord in faith, God miraculously took Jericho out, and the conquest of the Land was able to proceed.
Joshua 6 is the dramatic account of a battle that was unique in history. Read Joshua 1-6 for all the important steps that led up to the climactic moment when the walls of Jericho collapsed. All of this is important history, because it is the divine record of how Israel received the Land that God had promised them hundreds years before (Genesis 15:18). Through this nation, and in this Land, the Savior for all mankind would come!
Besides the important history contained in the book of Joshua, there are some valuable spiritual lessons to be learned. Besides the history, there’s a practical and devotional side. The records of the Israel’s battles contain spiritual principles for Christian warfare. The Bible tells us that we’re involved in spiritual struggles with Satan, the "enemy of our souls" (Ephesians 6:11-17). Satan wants to keep growing Christians from enjoying the spiritual blessings that are available to us in Christ.
Love, joy, peace, rest, freedom, hope, security, and intimate fellowship (and whatever else you long for) are available to be experienced in the "promised land" of the Christian life - but Satan puts up his strong-walled ”Jerichos” to keep us out of that promised land. The walls of doubt, and discouragement, and despair - they all become major obstacles in the Christian path. A particular sin or hangup can become a Jericho. The barriers seem insurmountable, and Satan laughs as we cringe in fear, or are content to live "in the wilderness" of Christian experience. Are there any “Jerichos” in your life? If so, those walls must fall!
Israel was God's earthly people. He gave them an earthly inheritance and promised them earthly blessings in the Promised Land (Joshua 1:3). All they had to do was enter and possess the Land (1:11). God didn’t want His people living in the wilderness any longer. They had wandered there for about 40 years because of their murmuring, complaining, unbelief and disobedience. (See Numbers 32:13; 1 Corinthians 10:5-11; Hebrews 3:15-19.) But now they were ready to move out with renewed dedication, and claim that good Land - a Land "flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8). The Lord promised them victory over the entire Land. He also promised His constant presence with them (Joshua 1:5 & 6:5). There was no need to be afraid or dismayed (1:9).
What a great picture of the Christian life! We are God's people, and He has given us a heavenly inheritance and all kinds of spiritual blessings. From this picture we see that there are two possible reasons why we fail to enjoy the "milk and honey" of Christian living. Murmuring and complaining, and unbelief and failure to claim our promised land - these sins will leave us in the wilderness. God doesn’t want us to wait until we get to Heaven to enjoy our heavenly inheritance. He wants us to "cross the Jordan" now, and claim the blessings that we have in Christ right now.
That’s what Ephesians 1:3 means when it says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places with Christ." Check out Ephesians 1:4-14 for a list of some of our spiritual blessings. Are you enjoying all of them? The blessings of our Promised Land are ours for the taking - but we must claim them, appropriate them, and make them our own (Joshua 1:3).
For example, a Christian who is afraid to die has not really claimed his security in Christ (Hebrews 13:5.) A Christian who is worried about his future has not really appropriated the "rest for your soul" that’s available in Christ (Matthew 11:29.) A Christian who is always complaining and discontented has not really experienced the joy, peace, and contentment of the Kingdom (Romans 14:17.) A Christian who can’t get along with his fellow-believers hasn’t really walked in the promised land of love that’s available to every Christian (John 15:9). Think of how much love exists between Father and Son. That's how much love is given to us!
But what about the “Jerichos”? They're there, because Satan knows that the frustrated Christian is an ineffective Christian. He also knows that the Christian who is enjoying the blessings of Christ is a Christian who is moving out and spreading the Kingdom of God. So Satan will do anything in his power to keep us defeated and scared - and ineffective. But God has promised us victory (Romans 8:37), just as he promised Joshua. He has also promised us His constant personal presence (Hebrews 13:5), just as He promised Joshua. There’s no need to fear (2 Timothy 1:7). There are no Jericho walls that are too high or too thick for our God!
What is the Jericho that is keeping you from fully entering the land of blessing that God has in store for you? The barriers of doubt and fear ? The strong walls of temptation or a secret sin? An "I couldn't care less" attitude? Those walls are not impregnable!
Victory over Jericho was guaranteed, but it was not automatic. Israel had to follow the instructions that God had given them to be sure of victory. We too must follow God’s instructions if we want to see the "walls come tumbling down." In the steps leading up to the fall of Jericho we see some spiritual principles that, when applied, bring sure victory.
Principles for victory
1. The Word of God. The first and foremost principle is to know and obey and apply the Word of God (Joshua 1:7-8). “The Law" here means the Scriptures that God’s people had at the time - the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. We must do more than just "get a little Bible" on Sunday mornings. We must study God's Word until it is a part of our thinking, so it characterizes our actions and our talk (1:8). We must obey it without compromising (1:7). We must obey all that is written (1:8). Then, and only then, will we be successful (1:7-8). And this is the secret of success for the Christian. Don't knock it until you've really tried it!
2. Follow the Ark. This principle for victory emerges from the early chapters of Joshua: "Follow the Ark." This principle sounds strange, until we realize that God is illustrating a principle He wants us to learn. The Ark of the Covenant in Joshua 3-4 was not a big boat like Noah's Ark! It was a gold-covered sacred box that the priests carried on their shoulders as the people of Israel journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land. The Ark of the Covenant was kept in the Holy of Holies, the most Holy Place of Israel's tent of worship, the Tabernacle. (They didn't have a Temple until many years later, under King Solomon.) The Ark represented the meeting place between God and mankind. Once a year the blood of the Old Testament sacrifices was presented before the Lord on the Ark. The Ark opened the way through the Jordan River so the people could cross into the Promised Land (3:13-17.) And the Ark was carried in the midst of the people when they marched around Jericho (6:8-9).
In the illustration that God has drawn for us, the Ark is a picture of the Lord Jesus. He is the meeting place between God and mankind. (See John 14:6 and 1 Timothy 2:5.) He is the One whose blood was presented, once and for all, before God to settle the problem of sin. (See Hebrews 9:11-15.) He is the One who opened up the way into the "land of blessing." He is the One who must be at the center of our march of faith around those “Jerichos” in our lives. If the wall are to fall, our walk of faith must be Christ-centered!
There are many other spiritual principles of victory in the book of Joshua, but these two "biggies" are enough to get you "into the land." There you will start to enjoy your inheritance in Christ. It we put Christ where He belongs in our lives and soak up God’s Word until it characterizes our lives, there will be no room for those “Jericho” obstacles. Those barrier walls will just disappear.
Remember - the walls of Jericho did not fall immediately. The people had to circle around the city, with faith and trust in God, for seven days. And it may take time for the “Jerichos” in your life to fall. But if the principles for victory are really applied (no shortcuts!) the walls cannot remain. The walls of Jericho will fall down!
- Dave Reid