God Gives Victory

KEY VERSE: “The Loss said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.” —Joshua 6:2

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Joshua 6:1-4, 15-21

AFTER they crossed the Jordan, the Israelites pitched their tents in Gilgal, but Joshua knew they were not to remain there, for they had the task before them of conquering the land which they had now entered. Apparently making his own investigation, we find that “Joshua was by Jericho” when “he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?”—Josh. 5:13

Under the circumstances we can well understand why Joshua was cautious. He was in enemy territory, and it was wise to make sure with whom he was speaking. The ‘man’ quickly identified himself, saying, “As captain of the host of the Lord am I now come.” (vs. 14) The Lord’s host referred to here by their captain, were evidently the angelic forces so often employed by the Lord for the accomplishment of his purposes. Their commander had appeared to Joshua in human form to instruct him in the proper procedure for capturing Jericho.

As we have noted, Joshua himself had considerable experience as a military general, but he bowed worshipfully before the mighty one from the angelic world, and in the spirit of fine soldierly obedience asked, “What saith my Lord unto his servant?” (vs. 14) “The captain of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place wherein thou standest is holy.” His true attitude of obedience to the Lord is eloquently displayed in the four words, “And Joshua did so.” (vs. 15) Happy are all the Lord’s people who, when they hear his command, hesitate not to obey, but “do so.”

Joshua’s responsibility was great, but the Lord reassured him. Even before instructing him on the plan of action for capturing Jericho, the Lord said, “See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.”—Josh. 6:1

Joshua’s faith must have been tested somewhat when he learned from the captain of the Lord’s host the method to be used for capturing this heavily walled city. As a military man he would naturally think in terms of heavy and continuous assaults upon the walls, coupled with attempts to scale the walls and thus get as many soldiers within as possible. But nothing like this was to be done. No usual military strategy was to be employed.

All of Israel’s military men were to go around the city once each day for six days. Seven priests preceding the Ark were to accompany them, blowing upon rams’ horns. On the seventh day there were to be seven encirclements of the city. At the conclusion of the seventh round of the city, the priests were to blow their trumpets, when commanded by Joshua, and the people were to “shout with a great shout.”—vss. 3-5

Here the Lord has furnished us with another comprehensive picture of the unique method which will be used to deal with and destroy the strongholds of sin in the future age. These fortresses, in reality, are in the hearts and minds of men. The priests prepared during this age will uphold the principles of the New Law Covenant through the kingdom authority of Christ. The truth will be proclaimed long and loud, as unmistakably as the clear sound of a trumpet, and all the people will be invited to join in support.

Sin and evil will not stand long under this onslaught, and when the work is complete, the walls of symbolic Jericho will be crumbled to the ground!

The Lord knew how to gain this signal victory for them. It was just as Joshua had said, “The Lord hath given you the city.”

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