A Helicopter Trip Over the Old Testament - Part 28
A Helicopter Trip Over the Old Testament
Part 28
Joshua
Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho
My Goal = That your faith grows more than your knowledge.
Interesting for what it is worth
The arrangement of the 12 tribes in Numbers 2 forms a cross with the Tabernacle at the center. (or the ancient Hebrew letter tav, meaning a sign or mark).
JOSHUA 1
“After the death of Moses… the Lord said to Joshua… you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them - to the Israelites… 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.”...
JOSHUA 2
“Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies … [Un-named] “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. 2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: [Busted] “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know [“Lesser of two evils”] which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax…) …8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea… when you came out of Egypt… 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 12 “…please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” 14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully…15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.” 17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, … 24 The spies said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”
1. Rahab showed faith by her actions.
•Hebrews 11:31 commends Rahab for faith.
•James 2:25 says her actions proved her faith.
•Matthew 1:5 has Rahab in genealogy of Jesus.
JOSHUA 3
“Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out… to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over… 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant … you are to move out from your positions and follow it. … 8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’” … 13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” … So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
2. God leads from the middle of your life.
JOSHUA 5:13-15
“When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” 14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord [Jesus] I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” 15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.”
[Just like Moses did at the Burning Bush]
3. Don’t ask God if he is on your side. Ask yourself, Am I on God’s side?
Battle of Jericho
JOSHUA 6
“The gates of Jericho were securely barred because [Fear] of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. 2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands… 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse …” “… 10 Joshua had commanded the army, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word UNTIL I TELL YOU to shout. Then shout!” …15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times… 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. [But Achan will disobey and steal stuff for himself. God will flush him out and Achan and his family will die for disobeying. Read Joshua 7 & 8] Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction [Achan did not take God seriously] by taking any of them… 21 They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep…”
4. Don’t go into any battle without faith in God’s leading and God’s strength.
A Word about Destroying ALL of the people.
God did not tell Israel to destroy everyone in the Promised Land.
When he did, it was for “Divine Judgment”.
Q: What determines what is “Good”?
A: What God says is “Good”.
Ie . Murder is not good.
Ie. Murder for DIVINE JUDGMENT is good.
Divine Judgement was attached to the cross.
Summary
1. Show your faith by your actions.
2. God leads from the middle of your life.
3. Don’t ask God if he is on your side.
Ask yourself, Am I on God’s side?
4. Don’t go into any battle without faith
in God’s leading and strength.
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