They Still HAD to Walk

In the beginning of the Jericho episode, God told Joshua He had given them the city and all its inhabitants. There was no question that Jericho was theirs for the taking. It was certain.

BUT THEY STILL HAD TO WALK.

Christian, the same is true for you. God has given you so "so great a salvation." But you still need to walk. You need to act on what God had promised. The Christian life is not a lazy-chair lounge session. To be "called" by God is to be commissioned for action in accordance with the promises He's made to you (never to leave you or forsake you) and territory He's given you (the fruit of righteousness).

Joshua 6:20–23 (ESV) So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. 21 Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword. 22 But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.” 23 So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel.

From this moment, Israel will begin to occupy the Promised Land and expand outward by capturing territory one stage and battle at a time as the Lord gives them victory. The future is bright.

The first battle in Jericho was a composite of their future. No, not every battle would be fought in this manner, but the manner Jericho is captured was an object lesson for the challenges to come. God was teaching them how to move forward into their future.

First, Israel had to walk around Jericho every day for seven days. That's called consistency. Walking with God without consistency will not result in new victories and new territories. 

Second, they had to walk completely. They had to encircle the entire city. God wants to give you victory over many areas of your life but you have to encircle it with prayer and obedience, trusting God to do the miracle. 

Third, they were to keep in step with the Ark and the Trumpets. I see these as a picture of the Lord Jesus (the Ark) and the Holy Spirit (the Trumpets). A Christian must follow the leading of the Lord Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit in order to see victory over areas in their lives.

Finally, there is a picture of Church community changing the lives of outsiders. Like Israel, the Church is God's people born again (out of Egypt) filled with the Spirit, led by the Lord Jesus to bring salvation to the nations (Rahab and her family).

I love how even this moment requires teamwork. The two young men who spied the city must go get Rahab and her family together. Christians, we cannot change our communities in isolation. We need each other. We are the Church meant and built and intended by God to work together for the salvation of many.

In Acts, we see teamwork every step of the way. Peter and John inaugurate what will be the mantra for the Church age - they go to the place of prayer together, see a man trapped in sickness and with love, compassion and the compelling power of the Holy Spirit, they give him a new life. Paul and Barnabus will travel throughout the world planting churches together. Later it will be Paul and his apostolic team of people (Titus, Timothy, and Luke) working together. Because a changed group of people will change a community when the Lord Jesus is leading them.

So we have a bright future in Christ. The victory is certain for our communities and the nations. But we still have to walk.