THE CONQUEST

BEGINS!Joshua 6

By Warren W. Wiersbe

“You are but a poor soldier of Christ if you think you can overcome without fighting, and suppose you can have the

crown without the conflict.” John Chrysostom (347-407)

Christian life involves challenge and conflicts whether we like it or notThe world, the flesh, and the Devil (Eph. 2:1-3) are united against Christ and His peopleMain theme of the Bible: God's holy warfare against Satan and sinIf you eliminate the militant side of the Christian faith, then you must abandon the cross, for it was on the cross that Jesus won the victory over sin and Satan (Col. 2:13-15)

The Christian warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against the enemies in the spiritual realm (Eph. 6:10-18); weapons are spiritual (2 Cor. 10:3-6)

No neutrality

Before the Challenge; Remember that you fight from victory, not just for victory (6:1-5)

Jesus defeated Satan in the wilderness (Matt. 4:11) and also during His earthly ministry (Matt. 12:22-29), on the cross (Col. 2:13-15), and in His Resurrection and ascension (Eph. 1:19-23)

“If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

The fear of the Lord (v 1)

Jericho: 8 acres, two high parallel walls (15 feet apart)

“I will send my fear before you, 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 NKJV)

Queen of Scots (Mary) feared John Knox’s prayer more than enemy army

We imitate the world’s methods; we cater to the world’s appetites; we look for the world’s approval; and we measure what we do according the world’s standards

Joshua and Israel made no compromise

The promise of the Lord (v 2)

I have given Jericho into your hand (6:2)

Victorious Christians: know the promises of God, because they meditate on God’s Word

(1:8)Believe the promises of God, because God’s

Word generates faith (Romans 10:17)Reckon on promises and obey

Reckon: to count time in your life what God says about you in His Word

“Be of good cheer, I have over come the world (John 16:33)

Believing a promise is like accepting a check, but reckoning is like endorsing the check and

cashing

The instructions of the Lord (v3-5)

“The strategy was the Lord’s” Francis A. Schaeffer

No situation is too great for the Lord to handle

John 6:5-6 – He knows what He would do

Our responsibility: to wait for Him to tell us all that we need to know and then obey it

God’s plan for the conquest seeemed foolish, but it worked

I Cor. 1:26-29 shows that God delights in using weakness

Joshua with trumpetsGideon with torches (Judge 7)David with sling (I Sam. 17)

2 Chron. 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself

strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him…

God’s instructions for Joshua7: Priests, trumpets, days of marching,

circuits of the city of 7th day

Trumpets: silver and ram’s horn

Ram’s horn used for celebrations

Silver for war

Trumpet: shofar; jobel for ram’s horn

Jobel, root word for word “jubilee”

Ram’s horn to “proclaim liberty throughout all the land” (Lev. 25:10)

Priests used the ram’s horns, not silver in circuit; no war

We should live like victors, not victimsFrom victory because God already won the

battle

During The Challenge: Remember that you overcome the Enemy by Faith (6:6-16, 20)

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days (Heb. 11:30)Lord’s plan with the priests

Ark – 8 times in 6:6-15; presence of God with His people

Solders – few, not 600,000, front and rearward

Leaders – receive orders from God and those who follow the leaders, obey their instructions

Test of Israel’s faith and patience “through faith and patience that God’s people inhereited what He has promised (Heb. 6:12)

God is never in a hurry Patient obedience Test of self-control

Be still, and know that I am God (Ps. 46:10)

People who couldn’t control their tongues couldn't control their bodies (James 3:1-2)

Enemies' reaction to daily processionFright

Encouragement to trust God’s promises and obey His instructions no matter how impossible the situation may appear. The only way to grow in faith is to accept new challenge and trust God to give you the victory.

After the Victory: Remember to Obey God’s Commands and Give Him the Glory (6:17-19, 21-27)

“Let’s be as watchful after the victory as before the battle”

Joshua’s four instructions to obey after the conquest of Jericho.

Devote the entire city to God (17-19)Jericho, as first fruits of victories to come

Achan’s disobedience

Rescue Rahab and her family (22-23, 25- 26)

One section of wall didn’t fall

Faith saved Rahab (Heb. 11:3)

“outside the camp” because Rahab’s family were unclean Gentiles (Num. 5:1-4, 12:14, Deut. 23:9- 14)

Our present world under the judgment of God (John 3:18-21)

Destroy the people (21)

The civilization in Canaan was wickedThreat to God’s purpose in Jewish men married

pagan women“God is at war with sin, that is the whole explanation of the extermination of the

Canaanites” G. Campbell MorganThe people of the land had been given

opportunity to repent and turn to the Lord like Rahab. (II Peter 3:9)

He will tolerate no compromise with sin in the lives of His people

Burn the City (v 24)“God is a consuming fire” (Deut. 4:24)

Jericho was a wicked cityJoshua put curse on JerichoKing Ahab (I Kings 16:34)

God was with Joshua (Josh. 1:5,9)God magnified him

When we are strong we become overconfident and forget to trust the Lord.)

II Chron. 26:15 (NKJV)  And he made devices in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and large stones. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong. (Uzziah)