Entering the Land 7

We have been studying the exodus out of Egypt to Mt. Sinai for many years. Then we studied Israel's travels from Mt. Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea. Then we looked at the first year of wandering in the wilderness. All those who were 20 years old and older when they refused to go into Canaan died during those 40 years of wandering.

Then we studied the transition from one leader to another. Not only was Israel under Joshua, who was a new leader but the whole army was new. Most of the army was born in the wilderness and had no memory of Egypt and the good old days.

We saw how this army consecrated themselves to obey all that Joshua, by the word of the Lord, commanded them. In our last study we followed Israel across the Jordan. They camped at Gilgal, where they were circumcised and kept the Passover. They ate the first produce of the land when they prepared the unleavened bread from the new grain. Then the manna ceased that very day.

This was the dividing time, and the beginning of a whole new day. From that day onward all Israel's provision came from Canaan. A new era had begun! For the most part, for 40 years,Israel had been at peace. Psalms says they were shepherds.

Israel had fought a few battles east of Jordan to capture the land Moses promised to the tribe of Ruben, to the tribe of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. They had requested the land outside the land of Canaan, on the east side of the Jordan. It is interesting that God permitted them to accept less than He had agreed to give them. They thought this particular land was better suited to their lifestyle.

Do you think God will let us accept less than our full inheritance in the Kingdom of God? He will! But it is foolish to request such a thing. God told those tribes they would have to fight until all of Israel obtained their inheritance, then they could return across Jordan to their families and their inheritance.

As this great conquest of Canaan was about to begin it was obvious this was the beginning of an all out war. These 7 nations and 31 kings lived in fortified cities. They had valiant and trained armies.

Some modern historians just do not believe the story as it unfolds in the book of Joshua. The big Macmillian bible dictionary and concordance says the account in the book of Joshua is grossly exaggerated.

The Readers Digest Atlas of the Bible says the archaeologists think Jericho was destroyed by another army about 400 years before the Joshua account. Therefore much of the book of Joshua is folk lore that was included in the scripture as Israel's history. In other words, are we really expected to believe that 600,000 men of war walked around the city 13 times and remained silent? Then blew 7 trumpets and shouted and these huge walls just fell down? That could only be folk lore.

Joshua was the commander of the armies of Israel. This person with the drawn sword was the Captain of the Host of the Lord. There were two armies here with two different commanders, but both had the same enemy and the same goals.

Angels don't let men fall down and worship. Worship is reserved for God alone. This "man" is the Lord. How do I know that? If you knew how these chapter divisions were put in the bible, you would know they were put there by man. Many times arbitrarily. In other words not very accurately. The original didn't have chapter divisions.

Then whom does it say was talking to Joshua in CH. 6:2 ? THE LORD. Now CH. 5:15 makes some sense. Remove your sandals, you are standing on Holy Ground. If the Lord had not told Joshua to remove his sandals, we could easily have missed the fulfillment of the promise made to Moses.

EXO 3:4 When the \Lord\ saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush, and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, " Here I am. " EXO 3:5 Then He said, "Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." EXO 3:6 He said also, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. EXO 3:7 And the \Lord\ said, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. EXO 3:8 "So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.

Every word that God spoke to Moses at the burning bush was fulfilled perfectly. Now God was reminding Joshua of that and giving Joshua more promises. JOS 6:2 And the \Lord\ said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king {and} the valiant warriors. JOS 6:3 "And you shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days. JOS 6:4 "Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. JOS 6:5 "And it shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead." This should have been a great encouragement to Joshua.

In a heathen city like Jericho there was a natural earthly enemy and there were the supernatural principalities and powers. Two enemies. How could Israel fight on two fronts? The captain of the Lord's hosts would handle the spiritual enemies. He was ready with sword drawn. The lords hosts could also blow on the walls of Jericho and they would all fall down, flat! Regardless of what the bible dictionary says.

Of course it is reasonable to doubt that blowing 7 trumpets and shouting would cause this great wall to fall down flat. This whole story would be difficult to believe if it wasn't for the captain of the host of the Lord who commanded this great army of angels. If they hadn't showed up for the battle I also doubt if the walls would have fallen down. The fact is they did show up so anything was possible.

The revelation of this account is in the fact that they were not fighting this battle alone. However, Joshua and his army had to show up for the battle also, or no victory would be won. The two armies are necessary for one war. When we are faithful to do our part then God is faithful to do His part.

If Israel had made it around the wall 6 times and then said this is enough. If God was going to do something He would have done it by now. Let's just stop and wait on God. No victory would be won.

How many realize there was a sabbath day in that 7 day march around Jericho. Earlier Israel was commanded to stone a man for gathering up fire wood on the sabbath day. Now they are carrying the Ark of the Covenant and all their weapons of war around the city wall.

HEB 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith the walls fell down. That means they simply believed what God said would happen, would happen, and acted upon it. Faith is not like the hurricane that blew through Florida . Like faith was the force that blew the wall down. Their faith was in God's word, then God knocked the wall down.

JOS 6:25 However, Rahab the harlot and her father's household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

Let us consider a question. What great benefit did this "big spy mission"accomplish? Did Joshua use that surveillance information in planning this great military maneuver? Since he knew how thick the walls were and how high the walls were and how many gates to the city there were, he could now plan his military strategy.

No! They didn't use any of that information or need any of it. Then what was the purpose of this spy mission? It appeared that Joshua missed God and got in the flesh. He wasted precious time while the spies was on a fruitless mission.

The bible says Joshua followed God perfectly. Was this then a fluke. No! It is obvious God wanted to save Rahab the Harlot and her family. What would God want with her? Because the Messiah came through her. MAT 1:5 and to Salmon was born Boaz by Rahab; and to Boaz was born Obed by Ruth; and to Obed, Jesse; MAT 1:6 and to Jesse was born David the king. And to David was born Solomon by her {who had been the wife} of Uriah;

How many can see the higher criticism of these scriptures is not very high. The natural man can find all kinds of contradictions in this account. But to those who have eyes to see can see God's purpose unfolding. God's wisdom is revealed.


	ENTERING THE LAND NO. 7 JERICHO We have been studying the exodus out of Egypt to Mt. Sinai for many years. Then we studied Israel's travels from Mt. Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea. Then we looked at the first year of wandering in the wilderness. All those who were 20 years old and older when they refused to go into Canaan died during those 40 years of wandering. Then we studied the transition from one leader to another. Not only was Israel under Joshua, who was a new leader but the whole army was new. Most of the army was born in the wilderness and had no memory of Egypt and the good old days. We saw how this army consecrated themselves to obey all that Joshua, by the word of the Lord, commanded them. In our last study we followed Israel across the Jordan. They camped at Gilgal, where they were circumcised and kept the Passover. They ate the first produce of the land when they prepared the unleavened bread from the new grain. Then the manna ceased that very day. This was the dividing time, and the beginning of a whole new day. From that day onward all Israel's provision came from Canaan. A new era had begun! For the most part, for 40 years,Israel had been at peace. Psalms says they were shepherds. Israel had fought a few battles east of Jordan to capture the land Moses promised to the tribe of Ruben, to the tribe of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. They had requested the land outside the land of Canaan, on the east side of the Jordan. It is interesting that God permitted them to accept less than He had agreed to give them. They thought this particular land was better suited to their lifestyle. Do you think God will let us accept less than our full inheritance in the Kingdom of God? He will! But it is foolish to request such a thing. God told those tribes they would have to fight until all of Israel obtained their inheritance, then they could return across Jordan to their families and their inheritance. As this great conquest of Canaan was about to begin it was obvious this was the beginning of an all out war. These 7 nations and 31 kings lived in fortified cities. They had valiant and trained armies. Unless God helped Israel in a supernatural way this was an impossible task. Joshua was not an experienced commander with an experienced and trained army who had been tested in battle. Some modern historians just do not believe the story as it unfolds in the book of Joshua. The big Macmillian bible dictionary and concordance says the account in the book of Joshua is grossly exaggerated. It is not likely you could move 600,000 men of war up into the hill country of Ai, because of the steep inclines and the narrow paths. The Readers Digest Atlas of the Bible says the archaeologists think Jericho was destroyed by another army about 400 years before the Joshua account. Therefore much of the book of Joshua is folk lore that was included in the scripture as Israel's history. In other words, are we really expected to believe that 600,000 men of war walked around the city 13 times and remained silent? Then blew 7 trumpets and shouted and these huge walls just fell down? That could only be folk lore. Now if God wasn't really involved in all of this then we can look for another explanation, because this one is a little wild. So let's begin our study in Joshua 5 : 13 - 15. Joshua was the commander of the armies of Israel. This person with the drawn sword was the Captain of the Host of the Lord. There were two armies here with two different commanders, but both had the same enemy and the same goals. Angels don't let men fall down and worship. Worship is reserved for God alone. This "man" is the Lord. How do I know that? If you knew how these chapter divisions were put in the bible, you would know they were put there by man. Many times arbitrarily. In other words not very accurately. The original didn't have chapter divisions. In the context it is obvious the conversation that began in CH 5:13 is continued in CH 6:2-5. If any chapter division was used it should have been put in CH. 5 between V 12 and V 13. Then whom does it say was talking to Joshua in CH. 6:2 ? THE LORD. Now CH. 5:15 makes some sense. Remove your sandals, you are standing on Holy Ground. If the Lord had not told Joshua to remove his sandals, we could easily have missed the fulfillment of the promise made to Moses. EXO 3:4 When the \Lord\ saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush, and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, " Here I am. " EXO 3:5 Then He said, "Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." EXO 3:6 He said also, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. EXO 3:7 And the \Lord\ said, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. EXO 3:8 "So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. Every word that God spoke to Moses at the burning bush was fulfilled perfectly. Now God was reminding Joshua of that and giving Joshua more promises. JOS 6:2 And the \Lord\ said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king {and} the valiant warriors. JOS 6:3 "And you shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days. JOS 6:4 "Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. JOS 6:5 "And it shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead." This should have been a great encouragement to Joshua. In this next restoration, God will give transparent guidance and clear direction. God gave Joshua exact instruction and told him clearly how to accomplish the battle. In a heathen city like Jericho there was a natural earthly enemy and there were the supernatural principalities and powers. Two enemies. How could Israel fight on two fronts? The captain of the Lord's hosts would handle the spiritual enemies. He was ready with sword drawn. The lords hosts could also blow on the walls of Jericho and they would all fall down, flat! Regardless of what the bible dictionary says. Of course it is reasonable to doubt that blowing 7 trumpets and shouting would cause this great wall to fall down flat. This whole story would be difficult to believe if it wasn't for the captain of the host of the Lord who commanded this great army of angels. If they hadn't showed up for the battle I also doubt if the walls would have fallen down. The fact is they did show up so anything was possible. The revelation of this account is in the fact that they were not fighting this battle alone. However, Joshua and his army had to show up for the battle also, or no victory would be won. The two armies are necessary for one war. When we are faithful to do our part then God is faithful to do His part. If Israel had made it around the wall 6 times and then said this is enough. If God was going to do something He would have done it by now. Let's just stop and wait on God. No victory would be won. How many realize there was a sabbath day in that 7 day march around Jericho. Earlier Israel was commanded to stone a man for gathering up fire wood on the sabbath day. Now they are carrying the Ark of the Covenant and all their weapons of war around the city wall. What we see is this is a new day. This is not a good time to get religious. This is the time to hear what the captain of the Lord's hosts says and do it exactly that way. HEB 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith the walls fell down. That means they simply believed what God said would happen, would happen, and acted upon it. Faith is not like the hurricane that blew through Florida . Like faith was the force that blew the wall down. Their faith was in God's word, then God knocked the wall down. Trying to work up hurricane velocity faith to blow the wall down is a waste of time. If we just believe what God says, the host of heaven can get the wall down. JOS 6:25 However, Rahab the harlot and her father's household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. Let us consider a question. What great benefit did this "big spy mission"accomplish? Did Joshua use that surveillance information in planning this great military maneuver? Since he knew how thick the walls were and how high the walls were and how many gates to the city there were, he could now plan his military strategy. No! They didn't use any of that information or need any of it. Then what was the purpose of this spy mission? It appeared that Joshua missed God and got in the flesh. He wasted precious time while the spies was on a fruitless mission. The bible says Joshua followed God perfectly. Was this then a fluke. No! It is obvious God wanted to save Rahab the Harlot and her family. What would God want with her? Because the Messiah came through her. MAT 1:5 and to Salmon was born Boaz by Rahab; and to Boaz was born Obed by Ruth; and to Obed, Jesse; MAT 1:6 and to Jesse was born David the king. And to David was born Solomon by her {who had been the wife} of Uriah; How many can see the higher criticism of these scriptures is not very high. The natural man can find all kinds of contradictions in this account. But to those who have eyes to see can see God's purpose unfolding. God's wisdom is revealed.