Entering the Land 8

It is not absolutely necessary to understand the topography of Israel to understand the conquering of the high country of Canaan. All revelation and application must come from the Holy Spirit. However if we understand the topography several more scriptures make sense. Topography means " a graphic and exact delineation of minute details of the land." The physical features of the land.

If we understand how the land lays , we see the reason for some of their decisions. Knowing the country, the hills, the valleys, the rivers, the high country plateaus, the access ridges to the interior, the road systems etc. causes the bible account to come alive. Obviously we can't complete a geography lesson on Canaan, but some details are helpful.

For example where was Jericho? Was it high or low? Was it desert or fertile? Where was Ai? Why was such a little town of 12,000 people so important to Israel that it was the second city captured and destroyed?

First it is important to understand Canaan was a very small country. It has very steep limestone mountains that are chalky and treacherous. The gorges between the mountains are very deep. Most of the access roads are up the ridges of the mountains, which are steep and narrow. The mountains behind Jericho are desolate with no shade or vegetation. Much of the mountain region is unaccessible.

Jericho is on a flat plain between the mountains and the Jordan river. The back side of Jericho is against the foot of the mountains. Jericho is an oasis in a dry and dusty valley, 840 feet below sea level. It is a 15 mile climb from Jericho to the plateau on the mountains, which reach an elevation of 3,000.

In the interior there is a central plateau area that is relatively flat. It is a rocky area with terraces for limited agriculture. It's soil is stony with large boulders, but has small places with vegetation.

There three possible routes to the interior from Jericho. All follow the ridges of the mountains. One route runs south-southwest towards Bethlehem. The second runs toward Jerusalem and is the shortest route. The climb to Jerusalem from Jericho is from the 840 feet below sea level to 2700 feet above sea level. The third route is toward the north west toward Ai. This is a very difficult climb and very dangerous but once they got to the plateau there was a more level area and a broader path. There was also some vegetation on the plateau.

The city of Ai blocked the way to traveling on up to the higher country. It was a small city of 12,000 people and it was a very difficult climb. The scouts that went up to check it out said, don't make everyone go up there, send two or three thousand soldiers. JOS 7:3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not let all the people go up; {only} about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few." JOS 7:4 So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai.

JOS 7:11 "Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put {them} among their own things. JOS 7:12 "Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn {their} backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst.

The purpose of these studies is to make application to the church today. What we learn from this is that God held all Israel accountable for the sin of one man. We might rejoice that only one man out of 601,550 men took anything under the ban. That must be some kind of a miracle. However God was not pleased and said all Israel had sinned and therefore could not stand before their enemies.

Is it possible that God will judge the church this same way in the Kingdom restoration move of God?? Will God deal with the church as ONE BODY rather than as individual members? This would give us more incentive to pray for one another! If this is accurate then this next move of God is not every man for himself.

If the whole group is held responsible for the sin and rebellion of a few this is a serious time. Achan then is purged from the group. Is it possible God will purge the church for this next restoration? Was the experience of Ananais and Sapphira an exception or was it normal for the Kingdom of God??

This problem of spiritual warfare takes on more definition when seen in the light of Ai. The captain of the Lord's hosts didn't show up for the battle. Even if you have on all your armor, your helmet, your shield and your sword, without the spiritual forces of God, the results are zero.

NUM 1:45 So all the numbered men of the sons of Israel by their fathers' households, from twenty years old and upward, whoever {was able to} go out to war in Israel, NUM 1:46 even all the numbered men were 603,550. When Moses numbered the fighting men of Israel at Mt. Sinai there were 603,550.

At kadesh-Barnea God said all these men would die in the wilderness. Therefore before he died, Moses and Aaron took another census to see if any of those men were still alive. At the same time he again numbered the men who were able to go out to war, in preparation to enter Canaan. NUM 26:51 These are those who were numbered of the sons of Israel, 601,730. NUM 26:64 But among these there was not a man of those who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest, who numbered the sons of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. NUM 26:65 For the \Lord\ had said of them, "They shall surely die in the wilderness." And not a man was left of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

Here we see 603,550 men of war died in those 40 years, besides the women and those who were not able to go out to war. That means 15,088 men of war died each year in the wilderness. That is 1256 each month or about 40 every day. Israel had to be aware that God's word is certain.

Now the point is this; JOS 8:1 Now the \Lord\ said to Joshua, "Do not fear or be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. Ai was such a small city and only had 12,000 residents total. Why take an army of over 600,000 to fight. It was a difficult and dangerous climb and not all would be needed by any means. Does this have an application for us? Couldn't 1000 men along with the Lord's hosts have won this little battle? With certainty! Then what does it mean?

If God is going to hold the whole group responsible for any failure, then God wants to attribute to every man the victory. Therefore God wants every person to participate in the battle and participate in the spoil. The spoil at Jericho was to go solely to the house of the Lord. The spoil at Ai was to go to the sons of israel.

JOS 8:2 "And you shall do to Ai and its king just as you did to Jericho and its king; you shall take only its spoil and its cattle as plunder for YOURSELVES. Set an ambush for the city behind it." JOS 8:27 Israel took only the cattle and the spoil of that city as plunder for themselves, according to the word of the \Lord\ which He had commanded Joshua.

The toil of warfare is not with out reward, but God wants all his people of war to participate so all can receive the reward. The doctrine of the church has been that the victory of Christ is attributed to each one who is saved, regardless of our activities.

This is true in our victory and authority over the devil, which was accomplished at calvary. But as far as spiritual warfare is concerned we all have to participate and enforce the victory of Calvary. God had already given Israel the whole land of Canaan but the enemy insisted upon living there. Israel had divine authority to every square foot of the land, but they had to drive the enemy off their land.

This is the same position the church is in today. God's method is by spiritual warfare. Unfortunately, The church approaches warfare much the same way Israel did at Kadesh-Barnea. The enemy is like giants and we are like grasshoppers. We are not able to go up.

This is not the attitude of the Kingdom person. The Kingdom person has a different spirit like Joshua and Caleb. Not just a big mouth. They said "We are well able to up." NUM 14:6 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; NUM 14:7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, "The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. NUM 14:8 "If the \Lord\ is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it to us-- a land which flows with milk and honey. NUM 14:9 "Only do not rebel against the \Lord;\ and do not fear the people of the land, for they shall be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the \Lord\ is with us; do not fear them." NUM 14:24 "But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it.

The picture God has given us is not just of some small land east of the great sea. He has given us a picture of the Kingdom of God and the violent men who take it by force. Every man is pressing his way into it. How hard it is to enter into the Kingdom of God. It is with much tribulation that we must enter into the Kingdom. MAT 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 2PE 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 2PE 1:11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.


	ENTERING THE LAND NO. 8 INVASION OF THE HIGH COUNTRY It is not absolutely necessary to understand the topography of Israel to understand the conquering of the high country of Canaan. All revelation and application must come from the Holy Spirit. However if we understand the topography several more scriptures make sense. Topography means " a graphic and exact delineation of minute details of the land." The physical features of the land. If we understand how the land lays , we see the reason for some of their decisions. Knowing the country, the hills, the valleys, the rivers, the high country plateaus, the access ridges to the interior, the road systems etc. causes the bible account to come alive. Obviously we can't complete a geography lesson on Canaan, but some details are helpful. For example where was Jericho? Was it high or low? Was it desert or fertile? Where was Ai? Why was such a little town of 12,000 people so important to Israel that it was the second city captured and destroyed? First it is important to understand Canaan was a very small country. It has very steep limestone mountains that are chalky and treacherous. The gorges between the mountains are very deep. Most of the access roads are up the ridges of the mountains, which are steep and narrow. The mountains behind Jericho are desolate with no shade or vegetation. Much of the mountain region is unaccessible. Jericho is on a flat plain between the mountains and the Jordan river. The back side of Jericho is against the foot of the mountains. Jericho is an oasis in a dry and dusty valley, 840 feet below sea level. It is a 15 mile climb from Jericho to the plateau on the mountains, which reach an elevation of 3,000. In the interior there is a central plateau area that is relatively flat. It is a rocky area with terraces for limited agriculture. It's soil is stony with large boulders, but has small places with vegetation. There three possible routes to the interior from Jericho. All follow the ridges of the mountains. One route runs south-southwest towards Bethlehem. The second runs toward Jerusalem and is the shortest route. The climb to Jerusalem from Jericho is from the 840 feet below sea level to 2700 feet above sea level. The third route is toward the north west toward Ai. This is a very difficult climb and very dangerous but once they got to the plateau there was a more level area and a broader path. There was also some vegetation on the plateau. Even today, with modern warfare, Israel recognizes those that control the central plateau, controls Israel. Therefore they protect that land at all costs. The city of Ai blocked the way to traveling on up to the higher country. It was a small city of 12,000 people and it was a very difficult climb. The scouts that went up to check it out said, don't make everyone go up there, send two or three thousand soldiers. JOS 7:3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not let all the people go up; {only} about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few." JOS 7:4 So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai. Since the army of Israel had to flee from the enemy it was obvious the Captain of the Lord's hosts didn't go with them. But they didn't fail from overconfidence but because Israel had sinned. JOS 7:11 "Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put {them} among their own things. JOS 7:12 "Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn {their} backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst. The purpose of these studies is to make application to the church today. What we learn from this is that God held all Israel accountable for the sin of one man. We might rejoice that only one man out of 601,550 men took anything under the ban. That must be some kind of a miracle. However God was not pleased and said all Israel had sinned and therefore could not stand before their enemies. Previously God held each person responsible for their own sin. Miriam was the only one who broke out with leprosy. Korah and his group were the only ones the earth swallowed up. But now this is a new day. God is judging Israel as one nation. Not just as individual persons. Each person has a corporate responsibility. One person's sin now affects the whole group. Is it possible that God will judge the church this same way in the Kingdom restoration move of God?? Will God deal with the church as ONE BODY rather than as individual members? This would give us more incentive to pray for one another! If this is accurate then this next move of God is not every man for himself. If the whole group is held responsible for the sin and rebellion of a few this is a serious time. Achan then is purged from the group. Is it possible God will purge the church for this next restoration? Was the experience of Ananais and Sapphira an exception or was it normal for the Kingdom of God?? This problem of spiritual warfare takes on more definition when seen in the light of Ai. The captain of the Lord's hosts didn't show up for the battle. Even if you have on all your armor, your helmet, your shield and your sword, without the spiritual forces of God, the results are zero. NUM 1:45 So all the numbered men of the sons of Israel by their fathers' households, from twenty years old and upward, whoever {was able to} go out to war in Israel, NUM 1:46 even all the numbered men were 603,550. When Moses numbered the fighting men of Israel at Mt. Sinai there were 603,550. At kadesh-Barnea God said all these men would die in the wilderness. Therefore before he died, Moses and Aaron took another census to see if any of those men were still alive. At the same time he again numbered the men who were able to go out to war, in preparation to enter Canaan. NUM 26:51 These are those who were numbered of the sons of Israel, 601,730. NUM 26:64 But among these there was not a man of those who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest, who numbered the sons of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. NUM 26:65 For the \Lord\ had said of them, "They shall surely die in the wilderness." And not a man was left of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. Here we see 603,550 men of war died in those 40 years, besides the women and those who were not able to go out to war. That means 15,088 men of war died each year in the wilderness. That is 1256 each month or about 40 every day. Israel had to be aware that God's word is certain. Now the point is this; JOS 8:1 Now the \Lord\ said to Joshua, "Do not fear or be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. Ai was such a small city and only had 12,000 residents total. Why take an army of over 600,000 to fight. It was a difficult and dangerous climb and not all would be needed by any means. Does this have an application for us? Couldn't 1000 men along with the Lord's hosts have won this little battle? With certainty! Then what does it mean? If God is going to hold the whole group responsible for any failure, then God wants to attribute to every man the victory. Therefore God wants every person to participate in the battle and participate in the spoil. The spoil at Jericho was to go solely to the house of the Lord. The spoil at Ai was to go to the sons of israel. JOS 8:2 "And you shall do to Ai and its king just as you did to Jericho and its king; you shall take only its spoil and its cattle as plunder for YOURSELVES. Set an ambush for the city behind it." JOS 8:27 Israel took only the cattle and the spoil of that city as plunder for themselves, according to the word of the \Lord\ which He had commanded Joshua. The toil of warfare is not with out reward, but God wants all his people of war to participate so all can receive the reward. The doctrine of the church has been that the victory of Christ is attributed to each one who is saved, regardless of our activities. This is true in our victory and authority over the devil, which was accomplished at calvary. But as far as spiritual warfare is concerned we all have to participate and enforce the victory of Calvary. God had already given Israel the whole land of Canaan but the enemy insisted upon living there. Israel had divine authority to every square foot of the land, but they had to drive the enemy off their land. This is the same position the church is in today. God's method is by spiritual warfare. Unfortunately, The church approaches warfare much the same way Israel did at Kadesh-Barnea. The enemy is like giants and we are like grasshoppers. We are not able to go up. This is not the attitude of the Kingdom person. The Kingdom person has a different spirit like Joshua and Caleb. Not just a big mouth. They said "We are well able to up." NUM 14:6 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; NUM 14:7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, "The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. NUM 14:8 "If the \Lord\ is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it to us-- a land which flows with milk and honey. NUM 14:9 "Only do not rebel against the \Lord;\ and do not fear the people of the land, for they shall be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the \Lord\ is with us; do not fear them." NUM 14:24 "But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it. The picture God has given us is not just of some small land east of the great sea. He has given us a picture of the Kingdom of God and the violent men who take it by force. Every man is pressing his way into it. How hard it is to enter into the Kingdom of God. It is with much tribulation that we must enter into the Kingdom. MAT 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 2PE 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 2PE 1:11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. The"automatic" Kingdom of God is a doctrine we should look closely at, considering the time in which we are living!