Joshua 6:1-5 - The Test of Obedience

Joshua 6 is a very exciting chapter where the walls of Jericho fall! This is a chapter that teaches us that we conquer by faith! It is by faith alone that we connect with the resources of God, the resources of heaven to face the enemies in our life, to face the challenges, the obstacles, the giants. Only by faith can we overcome! “And this is the victory that overcomes the world” (1 John 5:4). In these first five verses of Joshua 5 we learn several lessons about conquering our Jericho’s by faith.

 

We can’t help but notice that the people of Jericho are in fear of the nation of Israel. The news of Israel's Exodus from Egypt and their recent victories east of the Jordan had already spread to Canaan and put the people in panic (Josh. 2:9-11; see Deut. 2:25; 7:23; 11:25; 32:30). "I will send My fear before you," God had promised; "I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you" (Ex. 23:27).

 

It was said that Mary Queen of Scots feared John Knox's prayers more than she feared an enemy army. But is society today afraid of what God's people may do? Probably not, and it's mainly because the church hasn't done very much to display the power of God to a skeptical world. Today it appears that the church is so much like the world that the world takes little notice of what we do. We imitate the world's methods; we cater to the world's appetites; we solicit the world's approval; and we measure what we do according to the world's standards. Is it any wonder that we don't gain the world's respect?

 

But not so with Joshua and Israel! They were a conquering people who made no compromise with the enemy but trusted God to give them the victory. Theirs was a march of triumph that put the fear of God into the hearts of the enemy.

 

In verse 2, we see that the victory had already been won! All Joshua and his people had to do was claim the promise and obey the Lord. Victorious Christians are people who know the promises of God, because they spend time meditating on God's Word (1:8); they believe the promises of God because the Word of God generates faith in their hearts (Rom. 10:17); and they reckon on these promises and obey what God tells them to do. To "reckon" means to count as true in your life what God says about you in His Word.

 

"Be of good cheer," Jesus told His disciples; "I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Gal. 5:24). "Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out" (John 12:31). Christ has conquered the world, the flesh, and the devil; and if we reckon on this truth, we can conquer through Him. It's possible to believe a promise and still not reckon on it and obey the Lord. Believing a promise is like accepting a check, but reckoning is like endorsing the check and cashing it.

 

In verses 3-5, the LORD gave Joshua some simple instructions on what they needed to do to conquer Jericho. “March around the city one time a day for six days, and then on the seventh day march around the city seven times, and on the last time, blow the trumpets, and everyone give a loud shout. And you win!!!!” All Joshua and the people had to do was to be obedient! If we are faithful and obedient in the little simple things, God will miraculously take care of the big things!

Simple things like, read your Bible daily, pray daily, go to church regularly, serve the Lord by being kind to others, being unselfish, give to others, overcome evil with good, and so on. Very simple daily things, like just walking around the big walls of the enemy and shouting the victory! Then stand back and watch God work miracles in your life!

 

How are you responding to the daily “test of obedience” in your life?

 

God bless!