God Always Has A Joshua (Part 2)
Read: Joshua 6:2-5
God uses “natural” things to accomplish His purposes
There is an interesting and insightful verse in what we call the Resurrection Chapter - 1 Corinthians 15. In the chapter, Paul is defining the resurrection of humankind. In verse 46, he says, “However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.”
What I want you to see is the unveiling of a biblical principle.
Often, in both the Old and New Testament, a “natural” example is used to highlight or emphasize a “spiritual” truth. Jesus employed this principle all the time with the parables He taught, and the miracles He accomplished.
For the purposes of today’s post, we will see God use “natural” things, touched by divine power, to accomplish His purposes. And once again, we will discover that our God is a God of intention and detail and solicits obedience from His servants to accomplish His will.
Joshua’s battle strategy
In verses 2 through 5 of Joshua 6, the battle strategy for an assured victory is enumerated. Let’s examine it for a few moments.
Step one
“You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days.” As I mentioned before, we do not know exactly how many of Israel’s warriors marched around the city, accompanied by both priests and people, but from a previous chapter, we do know that at least 40,000 men of war were present.
And note the instructions - they all are to “silently” march around the city for six days. Yes, NOT SAYING A WORD!
Imagine you and your friends and family are inhabitants of the city of Jericho. Perhaps like Rahab and her family, your home is also built into the wall around the city. And these walls were huge by almost any standard. Here’s an archeological description.
“The Wall of Jericho. Archaeological evidence reveals that by 8000 BCE, the site grew to 40,000 square meters (430,000 square feet) and was surrounded by a stone wall 3.6 meters (11.8 feet) high and 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) wide at the base.” www.ancient.eu/article/951/early-jericho/
Step two
“Then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 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.”
Now all of sudden, hundreds, perhaps thousands of people are marching around these walls, and the Ark of the Lord is on public display carried by priests, with other priests blowing shofar’s, or long ram horns. And no matter what might be shouted down at this marching assembly, those marching remain totally silent. And this marching continues for six, silent days!
Then on the seventh day, they march seven times around the city, and when a long blast is heard, these thousands of people shout to the Lord.
Suddenly there is an acoustic earthquake that literally causes the walls to collapse. And now the warriors bound over the wall, and the battle brings complete defeat to the inhabitants of this once fortified city.
Here is an essential point. Whenever the leaders, warriors and people obeyed God’s instruction for battle, Israel always won! And when they took matters into their own hands without seeking the Lord’s counsel, Israel was always defeated.
God always has a Joshua
As the title of this post declares, ”God Always Has a Joshua” is a principle that has never changed. The Holy Spirit will raise up a man who is a gifted leader and who continually seeks the mind of the Lord.
And when this leader and those with whom he shares that responsibility follow God’s counsel, regardless of what kind of victory is needed, God the Father brings His good, perfect, and acceptable will to the people of God.
Please, never underestimate the role of a “Lead Pastor.” Please set your heart to pray continually that they, like Joshua, may hear and obey the “voice of the Lord.”
Let us cry out to the Lord for the guiding, enlightening presence of the Holy Spirit to be upon Pastor Matt and all who join him in leadership.
Father, may Your will be done on earth (Coastal Christian) as it is always done in heaven.
Blessing and prayers,
Pastor Gene
God uses “natural” things to accomplish His purposes
There is an interesting and insightful verse in what we call the Resurrection Chapter - 1 Corinthians 15. In the chapter, Paul is defining the resurrection of humankind. In verse 46, he says, “However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.”
What I want you to see is the unveiling of a biblical principle.
Often, in both the Old and New Testament, a “natural” example is used to highlight or emphasize a “spiritual” truth. Jesus employed this principle all the time with the parables He taught, and the miracles He accomplished.
For the purposes of today’s post, we will see God use “natural” things, touched by divine power, to accomplish His purposes. And once again, we will discover that our God is a God of intention and detail and solicits obedience from His servants to accomplish His will.
Joshua’s battle strategy
In verses 2 through 5 of Joshua 6, the battle strategy for an assured victory is enumerated. Let’s examine it for a few moments.
Step one
“You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days.” As I mentioned before, we do not know exactly how many of Israel’s warriors marched around the city, accompanied by both priests and people, but from a previous chapter, we do know that at least 40,000 men of war were present.
And note the instructions - they all are to “silently” march around the city for six days. Yes, NOT SAYING A WORD!
Imagine you and your friends and family are inhabitants of the city of Jericho. Perhaps like Rahab and her family, your home is also built into the wall around the city. And these walls were huge by almost any standard. Here’s an archeological description.
“The Wall of Jericho. Archaeological evidence reveals that by 8000 BCE, the site grew to 40,000 square meters (430,000 square feet) and was surrounded by a stone wall 3.6 meters (11.8 feet) high and 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) wide at the base.” www.ancient.eu/article/951/early-jericho/
Step two
“Then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 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.”
Now all of sudden, hundreds, perhaps thousands of people are marching around these walls, and the Ark of the Lord is on public display carried by priests, with other priests blowing shofar’s, or long ram horns. And no matter what might be shouted down at this marching assembly, those marching remain totally silent. And this marching continues for six, silent days!
Then on the seventh day, they march seven times around the city, and when a long blast is heard, these thousands of people shout to the Lord.
Suddenly there is an acoustic earthquake that literally causes the walls to collapse. And now the warriors bound over the wall, and the battle brings complete defeat to the inhabitants of this once fortified city.
Here is an essential point. Whenever the leaders, warriors and people obeyed God’s instruction for battle, Israel always won! And when they took matters into their own hands without seeking the Lord’s counsel, Israel was always defeated.
God always has a Joshua
As the title of this post declares, ”God Always Has a Joshua” is a principle that has never changed. The Holy Spirit will raise up a man who is a gifted leader and who continually seeks the mind of the Lord.
And when this leader and those with whom he shares that responsibility follow God’s counsel, regardless of what kind of victory is needed, God the Father brings His good, perfect, and acceptable will to the people of God.
Please, never underestimate the role of a “Lead Pastor.” Please set your heart to pray continually that they, like Joshua, may hear and obey the “voice of the Lord.”
Let us cry out to the Lord for the guiding, enlightening presence of the Holy Spirit to be upon Pastor Matt and all who join him in leadership.
Father, may Your will be done on earth (Coastal Christian) as it is always done in heaven.
Blessing and prayers,
Pastor Gene
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1 Comment
Thank you Pastor Gene for today's blog.
I pray for for you P. Matt, P. Matthew,
P. Chris, the elders and all of the leaders at CCOC.
I pray that they always follow the voice of the Lord and continue to lead us into battle. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen