Bible Study - Joshu (3) - Stick with GOD'S Plan - Joshua 6:1-5,12,16-20 - June 21, 2015

Bible Study – Joshua (3) – Stick with GOD’S Plan – June 21, 2015

This is lesson three (3) in our series entitled “Be Strong and Courageous: Leadership Lessons from Joshua.”

Our focus scripture is Joshua 6:1-5, 12, 16-20.

Leaders keep doing what GOD tells them to do.

In last week’s lesson, GOD stopped the flow of the waters of the Jordan River at the moment the priests stepped into the river water carrying the Ark of the Covenant for the Israelites to enter into the Promised Land. The journey of the Israelites is a portrait of such a beautiful picture of the Christian life.

All of us are in bondage to sin and death with no way to escape until GOD intervenes in our lives. HE sent HIS only Son, JESUS, into the world that all place their faith in HIM will be released from the bondage of sin and eternal death and receives eternal life. That moment of salvation begins each person’s journey to the Promised Land here upon earth and ultimately leading to Heaven. The Christian leaves behind his or her old life and puts on his or her new life in CHRIST.

There will be moments of decision along the way and miracles to reveal the watchful care of GOD as we walk with CHRIST. We may experience facing defining moments of trust as we face exploring the Promised Land or wandering in the wilderness. Even when we are in the wilderness GOD cares for us and is working within us. When we are hungry physically or Spiritually, HE feeds us or when we need water to quench our physical or Spiritual thirst, HE is there. When we reach the Jordan River, there is where GOD reveals HIS mighty hand. Will we cross into the Promised Land or remain where we are? When that moment occurs, he or she moves toward hope but that hope is not without responsibilities. As we journey with GOD, GOD’S desire is for us to etch the milestones along the way into our memory and make a memorial of the events to let others, especially our children, grandchildren and others know about GOD’S presence and guidance in our lives.

GOD’S presence and care for us in a time of need is our testimony to encourage others. It is never to bring the focus on us but on GOD as we live our lives as CHRIST leads us on our journey. Our journey is individual but often we journey with others.

Our lesson this week fast forwards us to the battle of Jericho. But we need to consider what happened during and after the Israelites crossed the Jordan River. Remember GOD instructed Joshua to select one man from each of the twelve tribes. In Chapter 4, we learn the reason.

Let’s read Joshua 4:1-24: (Stones of remembrance and testimony. Some Christians keep a journal.)

1 After the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua: 2 “Choose 12 men from the people, one man for each tribe, 3 and command them: Take 12 stones from this place in the middle of the Jordan where the priests are standing, carry them with you, and set them down at the place where you spend the night.” 4 So Joshua summoned the 12 men he had selected from the Israelites, one man for each tribe, 5 and said to them, “Go across to the Ark of the Lord your God in the middle of the Jordan. Each of you lifts a stone onto his shoulder, one for each of the Israelite tribes, 6 so that this will be a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 you should tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the Lord’s covenant. When it crossed the Jordan, the Jordan’s waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will always be a memorial for the Israelites.” 8 The Israelites did just as Joshua had commanded them. The 12 men took stones from the middle of the Jordan, one for each of the Israelite tribes, just as the Lord had told Joshua. They carried them to the camp and set them down there. 9 Joshua also set up 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan where the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant were standing. The stones are there to this day. 10 The priests carrying the Ark continued standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything was completed that the Lord had commanded Joshua to tell the people, in keeping with all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people hurried across, 11 and after everyone had finished crossing, the priests with the ark of the Lord crossed in the sight of the people. 12 The Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh went in battle formation in front of the Israelites, as Moses had instructed them. 13 About 40, 000 equipped for war crossed to the plains of Jericho in the Lord’s presence. 14 On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they revered him throughout his life, as they had revered Moses. 15 The Lord told Joshua, 16 “Command the priests who carry the Ark of the • testimony to come up from the Jordan.” 17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up from the Jordan.” 18 When the priests carrying the ark of the Lord’s covenant came up from the middle of the Jordan, and their feet stepped out on solid ground, the waters of the Jordan resumed their course, flowing over all the banks as before. 19 The people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and camped at Gilgal on the eastern limits of Jericho. 20 Then Joshua set up in Gilgal the 12 stones they had taken from the Jordan, 21 and he said to the Israelites, “In the future, when your children ask their fathers, ‘What is the meaning of these stones?’ 22 you should tell your children, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, just as the Lord your God did to the • Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over. 24 This is so that all the people of the earth may know that the Lord’s hand is mighty, and so that you may always • fear the Lord your God.”

The mighty handiwork of GOD is designed to build personal relationships. HIS desire is for HIS children to tell their children and others about HIS mighty works. The key is we, as HIS children, are never to take GOD for granted or consider that we are free from accountability and responsibility.

Let’s explore for a moment a few things about Jericho. Jericho is roughly 7 miles from the Jordan River and covers about 6-8 acres. It was built several thousand years before this event, possibly about 7,000 B.C. Some of its fortified walls were up to 25 feet high and 20 feet thick. The warrior’s positioned on top of the walls could see for miles. It was considered a symbol of military power and strength. To conquer Jericho would send a strong message to other kingdoms. The Israelites faced another formidable quest. It was a daunting objective but when GOD is leading it becomes a moment when HE is exalted and glorified and faith is strengthened.

We read in Chapter 5, that GOD instructed Joshua to circumcise the males to renew their covenant with GOD as HIS people. The males who came out of Egypt had been circumcised but the males born in the wilderness had not been circumcised. Circumcision was a symbol of cutting off their old life and beginning a new life with GOD. They remained in camp until all of the males healed.

We, also, learn in Chapter 5 that GOD stopped providing manna because now they were in the land flowing with milk and honey and could provide for themselves. GOD provides but there comes a time when we have to provide for ourselves as GOD gives us direction and guidance. We must never overlook the fact that GOD is The One Who Provides.

Then we read in Joshua 5:13-15:

13 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 approached Him and asked, “Are You for us or for our enemies?” 14 “Neither,” He replied. “I have now come as commander of the Lord’s army.” Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in worship and asked Him, “What does my Lord want to say to His servant?” 15 The commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

This was an angel of the LORD, the “Commander of the army of the LORD.” It is interesting that when Joshua asked him the question “Are You for us or for our enemies?” His reply was “Neither.” What came to mind that GOD directed this angel’s actions! We know as reflected in the history of Israel that GOD allowed them to prevail and at times they lost. It depended upon their obedience to GOD.

We will see victory in the battle of Jericho and defeat in their next battle. The difference was obedience. Let’s continue.

The presence of the Israelites was no secret, so the King of Jericho took action, as we read our focus scripture.

Let’s read Joshua 6:1-5:

1 Now Jericho was strongly fortified because of the Israelites —no one leaving or entering. 2 The Lord said to Joshua, “Look, I have handed Jericho, its king, and its fighting men over to you. 3 March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry seven ram’s-horn trumpets in front of the ark. But on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the trumpets. 5 When there is a prolonged blast of the horn and you hear its sound, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the city wall will collapse, and the people will advance, each man straight ahead.”

The king of Jericho locked the gates of the city and posted round-the-clock guards and warriors. Jericho was ready for battle.

This to me is so amazing. GOD gave Joshua, who had 40,000 warriors, HIS instructions for victory. What was GOD’S message to Joshua? It went something like this: Joshua the battle has been won. It is a matter of you following MY instructions. Keep in mind that you and those you command are to follow MY instructions completely and to the letter.

Go ahead and celebrate your victory in this way, have all your warriors march around the walls of Jericho one time per day for six days. “Have seven priests carry seven ram’s-horn trumpets in front of the Ark. But on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the trumpets. 5 When there is a prolonged blast of the horn and you hear its sound, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the city wall will collapse, and the people will advance, each man straight ahead.”

What is a stronger message: having 40,000 warriors invade Jericho and take it over or march around the walls of Jericho and on the seventh day the priest’s blow their horns and all of the people shout and wham-o, the walls fall down?

How would the king and the subjects of Jericho interpret such a display? It would be like a ceremony of worship to the One True GOD of the Israelites. 

Once HIS power was manifested it would send a powerful message throughout the kingdoms and utterly take the will to fight out of people of Jericho.

Did Joshua ponder GOD’S message? Did Joshua consider which strategy would send the strongest message? Certainly, what GOD said would be the most powerful message to those in Jericho, the Israelites and the kingdoms throughout the land. Did Joshua think “Did I hear GOD correctly?” The point is Joshua responded as GOD instructed had him, as we will see.

Let’s read Joshua 6:12-16:

12 Joshua got up early the next morning. The priests took the Ark of the Lord, 13 and the seven priests carrying seven trumpets marched in front of the Ark of the Lord. While the trumpets were blowing, the armed troops went in front of them, and the rear guard went behind the Ark of the Lord. 14 On the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days. 15 Early on the seventh day, they started at dawn and marched around the city seven times in the same way. That was the only day they marched around the city seven times. 16 After the seventh time, the priests blew the trumpets, and Joshua said to the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city.

Joshua did as GOD had instructed him, and guess what?

Let’s read Joshua 6:20:

20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets sounded. When they heard the blast of the trumpet, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. The people advanced into the city, each man straight ahead, and they captured the city.

All the Israelites had to do was to walk into the city and capture it. GOD had already won the victory.

This is like the Christian life. CHRIST as already won the victory. Our part is to obediently serve HIM as HE leads and guides us to claim the victory that is already ours.

I can almost hear the Israelites now, “Can you believe it? We thought that was the nuttiest thing we had ever heard but when the horns sounded and we all shouted, the walls just collapsed. All we had to do was walk into the city and take it. The poor citizens of Jericho were stunned.  Rahab properly indentified herself and her family and they escaped unharmed. That was a day to remember.   Surely GOD’S ways are far above our ways and HIS thoughts far above our heads.”

When the victory had been won, the Israelites still had to be obedient to GOD’S command. Even in victory, we as humans can get to feel the success of the moment and allow the flesh to rule our actions and not GOD. But in this case the Israelites did as GOD had instructed.

So what happened to Rahab and her family? What happened to the spoils of conquest?

Let’s read Joshua 6:17-19:

17 But the city and everything in it are •set apart to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and everyone with her in the house will live, because she hid the men we sent. 18 But keep yourselves from the things set apart, or you will be set apart for destruction. If you take any of those things, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster on it. 19 For all the silver and gold, and the articles of bronze and iron, are dedicated to the Lord and must go into the Lord’s treasury.”

Rahab and those with her were spared and the spoils of the conquest were dedicated to GOD.

Victory is sweet but did all go as GOD had instructed? NO, as we read in 

Joshua 7:1:

1 The Israelites, however, were unfaithful regarding the things •set apart for destruction. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart, and the Lord’s anger burned against the Israelites.

What impact would that sin have on the Israelites? This is a subject for next week’s lesson. GOD says what HE means and means what HE says.

Blessings!!!