Victory Through Faith
The biblical account of Joshua and the Battle of Jericho (Joshua 6) offers a profound lesson for every Christian about our faith and obedience to God. As Christians, we can draw deep spiritual insights from this account, finding truths about God and guidance for our own lives. Joshua and the battle of Jericho can inspire and instruct us in dealing with day-to-day spiritual battles and obstacles.
God’s Ways Are Not Our Ways
When God directed Joshua and the Israelites in their conquest of Jericho, He prescribed an unusual method: marching around the city walls in complete silence for six days, and on the seventh day, circling the city seven times followed by a unified, mighty shout. This was no ordinary military strategy but a divine plan that required absolute faith and obedience.
God’s ways are not our ways. God will often lead us through paths that seem illogical to teach us reliance on His wisdom rather than our understanding. The walls of Jericho did not fall by human strength but by the power of God, activated by faith and obedience to God’s word. There is victory through faith, and we can apply this to any stronghold or obstacle we may face in our Christian walk.
Two Key Principles for Advancing into God’s Promises
The actual crossing into the Promised Land occurred when the Israelites crossed the Jordan River. The children of Israel had seen the Jordan River stop flowing when the priests, carrying the Ark of the Covenant, stepped into the water. The children of Israel crossed over on dry ground. The Israelites were transitioning from wandering in the desert to settling and establishing themselves in Canaan, the Promised Land.
As exciting as this moment was, the children of Israel were soon to discover two key principles of advancement into God’s promises:
There will always be battles along the journey into the promises of God. Paul said that we live "from faith to faith" (Romans 1:17), meaning that a person of faith will be led from one situation to another that requires faithful obedience to God and His ways.
God’s methods and paths to victory are usually different from our preferences. The victory would come from an unconventional, God-designed battle plan - a plan that would require great faith and unmistakably prove God was in control.
Dealing with Obstacles in Our Lives
The Israelites' victory at Jericho shows us the power of obedience. James 2:17 reminds us, "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." Our faith is authenticated and activated by our actions. It's not merely about believing but living out our faith through obedience and action.
The battle of Jericho is a vivid illustration of the challenges we face on our journey to God’s promises. Just as the Israelites faced a formidable wall, we encounter barriers in our spiritual lives: sin, doubt, fear, and complacency. Each day's silent march around Jericho can be seen as a metaphor for our daily walk with God - a journey marked by perseverance, patience, and silent trust, even when the fulfillment of His promises isn’t immediately visible.
Faith-Filled Obedience
God calls us to put our trust in Him and not to lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). We are to trust God even when His plans may defy conventional wisdom. After all, "His ways are higher than our ways" (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Let us commit to walking in faith and obedience, knowing that our actions in alignment with God's will are never in vain. They are the very steps by which we march towards victory. The same God who brought down the walls of Jericho is leading us today. Let's march towards the victory that comes through faith.