Joshua 6:1-27 The Fall of Jericho

Here is the military strategy that God gives Joshua to bring down Jericho. The priests were to blow the trumpets in front of the ark while walking around the city walls. They walked around once every day for six days. Then on the seventh day, they were to walk around the city seven times. At the seventh time, they were to shout at the city walls until they came down. 

I'm no military strategist, but this is not a strategy you will find in the books. It is ridiculous, from a human perspective and I believe it is intentional. The conquest of the promised land, the establishment of God's kingdom upon the earth should not depend on neat human strategies. The reason? If the conquest is the result of our human strategies, we can take the glory and boast about our accomplishments. But when we follow strategies that clearly have a heavy supernatural component, we cannot take credit for the results because we depend on the mighty hand of God to come through for us.

Maybe this is where I am going wrong in my leadership in the church. I am giving too much room for my leadership to shine through and very little room for the supernatural work of God. If God grants success, many will look at what I have done and not what God has done. Of course, this is no excuse for not using good strategies in our outreach, but I must ensure that everything is done in total dependence on God for every move we make. And when things turn out great, we must give all glory and honor and praise to our Commander.

Rahab received the fulfillment of the promise that she and her family would live through this conquest because of her faith in God. We need to find the many Rahabs out there that are ready to believe God and his promises. We need to bring the power of the Gospel to bear upon their lives so they might see the power of God in action. I need to have a keen sense of calling to bring into the kingdom those who are ready. I must seek the lives of those who would believe and commit to the kingdom of God. As I march forward, I seek those who would join me and welcome them in the ranks of our God.

It is obvious from this story that God wanted Joshua to know that He was with him and that he expected Joshua to trust him every step of the way. I must lead in total dependence on God. Lord, help me depend on you day by day. May I give ample room for your glory when things go well in the church. May every leader in the church see my example of dependence and follow it. 

Joshua 2:1-24 Rahab Hides the Spies

The leadership is commissioned and the people are committed to begin the conquest of the promised land. But commissioning and commitment will not get the conquest accomplished unless there is combat. Joshua sends a couple of spies to scout the first target - Jericho. It is a large city fortified with great walls. The spies encounter a prostitute named Rahab who knows all about the God of Israel and his promises to give them the land. She becomes a convert to the God of Israel in exchange for her life. She hides the spies from her own people as a show of her new allegiance. The spies promise to spare her and her family if she marks her dwelling with a scarlet cord on the window. 

Some conquest activities are covert in nature. Infiltrating the enemy's lines to assess power is a common strategy. But, more importantly, infiltration brings the opportunity to rescue those who are destined for destruction. Divine appointments bring me in contact with those who are ready to make a commitment to the kingdom of God. Many times I fail to be alert to such possibility in the lives of people I meet. They have heard the message. Their hearts are ready. All they need is the encouragement to make that commitment to God Almighty. One on one covert activities are part of the conquest strategy of the kingdom.

The kingdom of God does not make exception of people. It does not discriminate for past sins. Rahab was a prostitute and she was accepted. Of course this means she repented of her ways and changed. It does not discriminate for ethnicity. Rahab was not an Israelite, but was received among the Israelites as their own. We have the testimony of the Scriptures that she became part of the genealogy of Christ. Her past, her ethnicity, and her current circumstances were not obstacles for a profession of faith in the God of Israel. All that matters is a repentant heart and a contrite spirit willing to embrace the true living God.

The use of a scarlet cord harks back to the Passover celebration where the judgment of God passed over those who had blood on their doorposts. The placing of the red cord on her window is the act of faith that makes the judgment of God pass over her and her family making her a daughter of Abraham by promise. The promise of salvation from judgment is given to Rahab and is the promise I should be extending to all I encounter in my journey.

My life may be in danger for engaging in such covert activities. Maybe not in this country, but many brothers and sisters around the world suffer for this faith. The kingdom of God is dangerous business. It is very risky. But the offer of salvation and the opportunity to snatch someone away from certain condemnation is worth the risk.

Living God, move my life into combat mode. Don't let me be complacent in the world. May I engage in covert activities that bring me in contact with those who are ready to receive the life of the kingdom. May I offer your salvation without shame or fear.