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Day one: Faith involves following the Lord.
When we think of the Battle of Jericho, we often skip the account of Joshua’s vision of an angel. We focus more on the march around the walls and the battle cry at the end. Yet it is an angel that provides instructions on how Israel will overtake the city. There are times in our lives where God’s interaction with us may appear random or nonsensical. However, victory, freedom, and redemption are found not through our own leading, but by following the way of the Lord. God leads. We follow. This is the way of faith.
Thoughts: What does it mean when Jesus says follow me? As we follow Christ others will see our life and want to follow.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.””
Matthew 8:20
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. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:5-9
Take God’s *blessing
The first *victory - Jericho – Joshua 5:13-6:27
v13 While Joshua was near Jericho, a man appeared to him. The man was standing in front of Joshua and had a sword in his hand. Joshua approached him. ‘Are you an Israelite soldier? Or are you an enemy?’ he asked. v14 ‘I am neither’, he answered. ‘I am here as the captain of the Lord’s army.’ Joshua fell on the ground to worship. Joshua said, ‘I am your servant. Lord, what can I do for you?’ v15 The captain of the Lord’s army said, ‘Take your shoes off. You are standing on holy ground.’ And Joshua took his shoes off.
Verse 13 Many people think that the man with a sword in his hand was Jesus. People think that there are several mentions of Jesus in the *Old Testament. Here are three.
· Genesis 32:24-31 God (Jesus) fought with Jacob.
· Judges 6:11-16 God (Jesus) visited Gideon.
· Daniel 3:19-30 The King of Babylon punished three *Jews. He put them into a very hot fire. The king saw God (Jesus) with the three men. Then, God rescued the three men. The fire could not hurt them.
Most of these events happened when people needed help. God helps us when we need him most.
Other people do not think that these passages are about Jesus. Instead, they think that God sent an angel to help his people. An angel is a *messenger that God sends from heaven. There are many angels. They are God’s servants in heaven.
Verse 14 God controlled the army of the *Israelites. Joshua accepted this.
Verse 15 God also told Moses to take his shoes off at the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-6). The place was *holy because God was there.
Chapter 6
v1 The people in Jericho kept their gates shut. They watched to be sure that the Israelites did not get in. No one could go in or out of the city. v2 ‘I will give Jericho to you’, the Lord said to Joshua. ‘I will give its king and all its brave soldiers to you. v3 You and all your soldiers must march round the city once each day, for 6 days. v4 7 priests will walk in front of the ark. They will carry trumpets as they walk. On the 7th day, you and your soldiers must march round the city 7 times. At the same time the priests will cause their *trumpets to sound. v5 Then they will make one long loud noise. As soon as you hear this, all the men must shout loudly. The city walls will fall down. Then the whole army will go straight into the city.’
Verses 1, 2 The people in Jericho were afraid of the Israelites. They knew how powerful God was. They did all that they could do to protect themselves. God told Joshua that the Israelites would defeat Jericho. God was captain of the army. He would win the battle for them.
Joshua and the *Israelites trusted God. They knew that God was on their side.
God is on our side. He is our captain. He will fight our battles for us. We must trust him. Romans 8:31 says that if God is for us, nobody can defeat us.
Verse 3 God told the *Israelites to walk round Jericho for 7 days. There are several possible reasons for this.
· To test the faith of the Israelites.
· To test if Joshua and the *Israelites would obey God.
· To prove that God had to be in control.
Verse 4 It was not usual for the Israelites to take the ark into battle. This was the first battle in the promised land. The Israelites needed to know that God was with them. They needed to see something to help them.
God has promised to be with us at all times (Matthew 28:20). We do not need to see anything. We know that God keeps his promises.
Thank you for another great day of Zoom Battle prayer.