“…And when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat…” Joshua 6:5
In the conquest of Canaan, Jericho was the first obstacle and challenge in the path of Israel. That which was not apparent to the naked eye was the spiritual issues that were at play in taking the city, and destroying it. To begin to understand this matter, we need to go back to God’s dealings with Abraham many years before. God gave to Abraham a promise concerning the land of Canaan when He said: “I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.” (Gen. 15:7) However, what Abraham did not realize was the time frame, and how the Lord would work to bring this to pass. In instructing Abraham to make an burnt offering, Abraham was faced with the job of driving devouring birds from the carcasses of the offering. Immediately we see that there is opposition to the revealed will of God, that even in worship there will be is resistance, for these fowls certainly represented to some extent the enemy of God who exists but to steal, kill, and to destroy. Abraham would then fall into a deep sleep at sunset, and would experience “an horror of great darkness which fell upon him.” (v.12) The fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham would be opposed, resisted, and confronted by darkness, spiritual darkness that would result in difficulty and suffering of the people of God, for four hundred years. God would use the efforts of the enemy to form the resolve of the people to desire and will to be delivered from such oppression, specifically that which was imposed upon them in Egypt. During this time another scenario was occuring in Canaan. It was the enemy working to bring the people of the Canaan to a total refusal to receive, and rejection, of any revelation of the true God, and the corresponding worship of God in truth. God would tell Abraham that, not only would the people of God be afflicted for four hundred years, but that, “…the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” (v.16) As in the days of Noah, the door of opportunity to believe in God was closing. By the time Israel reached the Jordan River, there would be only one family left in Jericho which would believe God, and be saved. That was the family of Rahab. In spite of the miracles that the people of Jericho, and those of Canaan had heard of, which God had performed in bringing Israel to that point and place, there was absolutely no desire or will, to seek God. Judgment was at hand, and they would not believe it.
After the nation of Israel was circumcised again, their consecration to God renewed and revived, they came to Jericho, with its formidable walls of defense, and defiance, declaring their unbelief in the Almighty God. It is at this moment that we discover that these walls standing in opposition to the people of God, and the will of God for them to possess the land, are not just a physical matter, but a spiritual one. There then comes a Man to meet Joshua, having a drawn sword in his hand. He declares Himself to be, “the Captain of the host of the Lord.” (5:14) Immediately, we are confronted with the spiritual army of God, His angels, His almighty power and authority over all His enemies. This Captain is none other than the Lord Himself. The time has come for Him to intervene in this situation, to “destroy the works of Satan.” The prerequisite for His intervention is first the recognition of who He is, and secondly, the worship of Him as holy. God will give to Joshua specific instructions how to conquer Jericho, promising him that if Joshua and the people do as He commands, the walls will fall flat by His intervention. This He faithfully did.
Dear Father, Give us grace to believe Thy power. In Jesus’ name, Amen.