JOSHUA & THE WALL OF JERICHO
Joshua 6:1-8
Bible Stories We Remember Message Series
August 21, 2016
Pastor Nathan J. Thompson
Multiple times these past years Kim and I have gone with her father, my father-in-law, Jack and his wife, Barb, jeeping on the North Shore and in Arizona. Yes, Jack & Barb, in his 80's loves to jeep off-road in Minnesota in the summer and Arizona in the winter.
One memory I have is when our expedition took us on the old abandoned Hwy 61 on the Indian Reservation near Grand Portage and the Canadian border. There we jeeped and hiked to Pigeon Falls; climbed an abandoned fire look-out tower; stood at the end of the road where the original bridge was taken out leading into Canada.
Now something that happens periodically in jeeping ( as we often drive on overgrown roads with large rocks and treacherous terrain) is that we often come to a crossroad where a decision needs to be made. Should we go this one way; or should we try the other? What will we find if we go this way? Perhaps we should just turn around and go back the way we came?
One decision we made on this outing led us on a long windy road where we ultimately came on a logging operation. The problem was that the decision we made back at the crossroad actually led us to a dead-end; it did not lead us where we needed to go. Therefore all we could do was to backtrack over the same path back to that crossroad.
In the Bible story we remember today the Children of Israel are now at a crossroad. After 40-years of wandering in the wilderness they are now at the banks of the Jordan River overlooking the Promised Land of Canaan. They are now close to having their hopes and dreams; having the dreams they had prayed about for so many years realized.
However the first crossroad they had to face was the death of their leader, Moses; also God’s call for Joshua to be the new leader. This was a very difficult crossroad for the people as they grieved for Moses whom they had learned to trust; as they now needed to follow and trust in Joshua. Quite often it can be very difficult for people to trust and follow a new leader.
Then another major crossroad the people faced was the challenge of their enemy who lived in Canaan; the challenge of the walled and fortified city of Jericho where these people lived. This city and the people were known for their military might; they were considered invincible.
When the two spies whom Joshua sent to Jericho returned they told stories of this magnificent land flowing with milk and honey. Yet in sharing about this walled and fortified city; in telling about this strong army fear swept through the Israelite camp. The people were terrified.
At this crossroad some of the people again rebelled against the Lord. They cried out and complained to God why he had brought them to their certain death. In fact when these two spies pleaded with the people not to rebel against God they began to talk about stoning them to death.
It was at this point that Joshua took command. After 40 long years he was not going to allow the whiners and complainers to keep them from conquering the Promised Land. Therefore Joshua told the people to pack up everything; to leave nothing behind. Joshua reminded them that Moses himself had promised that God had given them this land.
So at this crossroad the people had a choice. Would they follow or would they rebel against God? Would they obey God’s laws or would they be disobedient and go their own way? Would they believe the Word of God or ignore it? Would they trust in God completely or trust rather in themselves?
In Joshua 1:16 they answered, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, is to be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”
They went then as Joshua commanded; they marched around the city of Jericho one time each day for six days. Then on the seventh day after marching around seven times they blew their trumpets and shouted at the top of their lungs; and the walls came tumbling down.
Through God’s power they conquered their enemy; the Promised Land was theirs; their future was changed forever. Those who followed Joshua at this crossroad shared the joys of this unbelievable Promised Land; this land flowing with milk and honey.
A major truth we learn from this Bible story is that life (yours and mine) is often faced with crossroads. There are choices as to what direction we will go. There are choices as to who we will follow; will we follow God and his Word; will we follow ourselves; another religion?
As we make this choice there is always the fear of the unknown. There may be multiple enemies of uncertainty and risk on the path we follow. There may be some walls that seem insurmountable; barriers that seem impossible to tear down.
So what is this major crossroad and challenge you are facing today? It is basically the crossroad of whether we commit our lives completely to Jesus by faith or whether we instead follow the ways of the world? Will we trust in Jesus as our leader or put our trust elsewhere?
When the Children of Israel stood at this crossroad and Joshua called them to follow their commitment really meant something. They needed to physically cross over the Jordan River into the new land. They needed to put their life completely on the line in facing the enemy. There was no way to remain half-committed or neutral.
This of course is also one of the major challenges of Christianity today. Lots of people say they are Christian believers yet they remain only partially committed. Some people feel they were somehow grand-fathered into the Christian faith (the church) simply by being part of their family who are members of a church. Some feel they are grandfathered in because they were baptized; confirmed; go to church once in awhile; whatever.
George Barna of the highly respected Barna Research Group has found in his major surveys that even though seven out of ten Americans (72%) claim they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ; a commitment that is important in their lives today most people are in fact inconsistent and soft in their spiritual perspectives.
Barna says that “Americans are willing to expend some energy in religious activities such as attending church and reading the Bible, and they are willing to throw some money in the offering basket.” And “because of these activities,” Barna says, “they convince themselves that they are people of genuine faith.”
Barna continues, “But when it comes to truly establishing their priorities and making a tangible commitment to knowing and loving God, and to allowing Him to change their character and lifestyle, most people stop short. We want to be ‘spiritual’ and we want to have God’s favor, but we’re not sure we want him taking control of our lives and messing with the image and outcomes we’ve worked so hard to produce.”
Therefore the question for you in your life of faith is whether you are willing to commit your life completely to Jesus and his mission? Are you willing to follow Jesus wherever he leads; are you willing to trust his Word of truth for guidance and power? Either that or do you simply want all of God’s blessings with the least amount of effort and commitment?
When God called the Children of Israel (through the leadership of Joshua) to cross over the Jordan and to march around Jericho there was no room for a soft or neutral commitment. They knew that taking this crossroad meant that they needed to walk completely by faith.
They knew that going into this unknown land was full of risks; they even faced the chance of death. They knew that the only way these walls could be crushed; the only way the Canaanites would be defeated is if they trusted completely in God and his miraculous power. It was obvious that on their own power they didn’t stand a chance.
As you face whatever crossroad today God continues to call you to follow him completely. He continues to call you to trust in him to lead; to trust in his Word and promises so you too will walk in faith. The truth is that only with God’s help can you find victory and new life.
Jesus said in Luke 9:23, and I read from the New Living Translation, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.”
So what is your response to Jesus’ call? The Israelites responded to Joshua, “We will do whatever you command us, and we will go wherever you lead us.” Let us all step forward in faith and commitment so we may experience the Promised Land of life with Jesus now; so that we may one day share in the Promised Land of life-everlasting in heaven.