The story of the fall of the Jericho wall is a story that we probably has familiar with, and even often taught in sunday school. We know that God has led Israel to crush Jericho, and Israel had received a big victory. But before we go into this story too much, this story about the march to Jericho was begun by the coming of the Commander of the army of the LORD (read through Joshua 5:13-15). This is the crucial part on the success story of Jericho’s destruction.
The Commander of the army of the LORD has come to Joshua to take leadership to this mission. Notice that Joshua was asking him whether he is for Israel or is he is for Israel’s adversaries, but instead He answered “No (or neither)”. He was trying to say that He is the commander, He is the one that will lead, and Israel has to follow him instead. Now who is this Commander of the army of the LORD? From the text, we find out that this man can’t be an angel as He received worship from Joshua (see Revelation 22:8-9). Only God can receive our worship, and so this man must be God Himself. His command/words in verse 15 that asked Joshua to remove his sandals was similar to what happen with Moses when Moses met God that appeared as a burning bush (Exodus 3:15): God said that it is because the place where Joshua was standing was holy - Holy, because God is there. Many theologian describe this event in old testament as "Christophany" which means Christ (Christos) appearance/revelation (phaneroĊ). It was Christ (2nd person of Trinity - the God-Man) revealing Himself and He was the commander of the army of the LORD.
He came to Joshua just as God has promised Joshua that God will be and will not forsake Joshua (Joshua 1:5); He came because He wanted to instruct Joshua about the plan for the battle - a plan (if we look on Joshua 6) which is so impossible without God first initiated it through His command. But most of all, He came to conquer Israel's heart; for Joshua to surrender all to God, to have a total submission to God - and that’s what Joshua did. This is probably the most missing element that we as His people often neglect: our worlds are full of problems, and we live in a world that teach us to seek out Man’s ability instead of God’s ability to save, to heal and to redeem us. We live in such a world that relies on Man’s effort (or own strength) instead of God’s. But here, if we read carefully from Joshua 5:13 to the end of Joshua 6, God wanted to tell us that He will be the one that will do the battle, God will fight, and only by His power we can taste victory, and for us, God wants our total submission to Him - look at His command in Joshua 6 which is so improbable, and made absolutely no sense according to human’s perspective (going around the city once each day except the 7th day that they must march around 7 times, then the priest shall blow the trumpets, and the people shall shout, then the wall will fall down flat after that).
Have you ever imagined the march that Israel did around Jericho’s wall? It is not like walking on a peaceful beach on a sunset, or walking in the garden enjoying a spring wind blows. Do you know what the feeling might be? It was like walking in the african desert or in a deep forest knowing that there are hundreds of tiger watching us. While they were walking, the enemy is up there up on the wall looking at them, guarding the wall with their sword, and maybe some archers hesitating whether to shoot or not, or maybe they were thinking should they stoned them from above instead? If we were in Israel’s position, we might think: what about if they hit us when we are in this vulnerable position? should we not make the first move while they were waiting? Can we trust God in such circumstances? Those are some challenges that God gave to Israel. We know that God could wipe away the entire canaan by Himself alone without the needs of the Israelites doing the march, isn’t it? But God wanted them to be part of His work! what a privilege, I should say. This is the thing that we often overlook, we look too much on the problem, and forgetting God’s purpose in us through the problem that we face. Our first response often to grumbled or working it out with our confidence; or maybe we prefer to escape from such challenges that God would like us to dwell with. I'm not talking that we should deliberately find difficulties or problem in life, No. But sometimes we have to be sensitive to know God's will that we have to dwell in such struggle and keep obeying him in those moments. Why? Because God wants to train us more, to be part of His plan, to step more through faith in Him; at those time God mold our character to rely on Him alone. The Israelites won't experience God's work and taste such a miraculous victory if they don't do exactly as what God commands, aren't they? Look at what happen back then, Did Jericho fall because of Israel's fighting skill or plan? No, they won the battle by following God's plan and timing: God first already weaken their fighting morale, then strikes the wall. God knows that Jericho is already defeated (look at Joshua 6:2 And the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor). God's purpose is always for His name, and for His kingdom and NOT for our earthly pleasures.
Let us also direct our attention to the end of Joshua chapter 6, and we notice Rahab’s name was mentioned. God who is faithful shows His faithfulness to His people including Rahab that has been considered as His people because of her faith that is shown through her action to save the two spies. This shows that she has the fear of the LORD. Rahab has faith to God, and God allows Rahab to be called “Israel” and spare her unto “this day” (which points to the day when the book of Joshua was written). God not just saves Rahab from the gentile community (from the nation that was meant for destruction), but also bless her, for through her the Messiah will come (Matthew 1:5). It is such an irony nowadays that many people may hear the Gospel, but few may responds to the Gospel - just like the canaanites: we see a contrast between judgement and salvation here in this story: All of Jericho heard about the God of Israel, but only Rahab responded positively in faith towards God with that knowledge.
Now, for us today, after we heard again of Jericho’s story, after we learn of what kind of God He is.. do we trust His name? Do we really trust His power to save? Do we fear him just like Rahab, and if so do we want to surrender all to Him, giving Him our total submission (total obedience) to each of every WORDS that He has given us; When God challenges us, are we running away? or can we trust Him to follow His plan even in such difficult time. If any of us lacks wisdom, even in such difficult moment, James 1:5 encourages us to seek Him in prayer asking for His wisdom so that our live may be a live pleasing Him.
~ Paul Hartono
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