Joshua 6:1-5 - God's Instruction Book

Joshua 6 is a exciting chapter about the walls of Jericho coming down by faith! That is what it says in Hebrews 11:30, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.” That is how we have victory in our Christian life! We are to live by faith not by our feelings, not by our emotions, not by our circumstances or situation, not by looking at the problem or the obstacle, the mountains or giants that have come between us and God’s best for our lives. But by faith we look up to the greatness of God and fix our eyes on Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus is our Joshua and we can walk in victory every day! I know that is easier said than done!!!!   Remember Joshua is engaged in a conversation with the Captain of the LORD’s Host by the walls of Jericho. The LORD is giving him specific instructions about the next step to take. And no doubt the instructions seemed very foolish and unreasonable. But they were to be observed and obeyed! This past Sunday, in my last message as interim pastor at Friendly Community Church in Burgaw, I preached on Titus 3. Paul was giving instructions to Titus to help him organized and minister to the churches on the island of Crete. At least twice in chapter 3, Paul told Titus to teach the believers there “to learn and be careful to maintain good works”.   We all need a spiritual maintenance program for our lives. And God has given us a maintenance manual called the Bible! It has very simple instructions on what we should do on our Christian walk every day. Things we should do and things we shouldn’t be doing. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16 that the Bible, God’s Word, teaches us doctrine. It tells us who God is. It tells us who we are and what our purpose in life is and what life is really all about! So many people today are living vain and empty lives and they wonder why. I can tell you why and it is because we have forgotten the main instruction Book, the Bible. Not only does the Bible tell us who we are and what life is about, it gives us reproof. It warns and tells us when we are wrong and have gotten on the wrong path in life. But it does even more! It then corrects us and tells how we can be forgiven and get back on the right path. And finally, it tell us and gives us instructions on how to stay on the right path! God has an awesome maintenance program for our lives! Are you reading and applying it to your broken life, your broken family, your broken relationships?   You can’t help but notice that God’s in plan and instructions the emphasis is on the number seven: seven priests, seven trumpets, seven days of marching, and seven circuits of the city on the seventh day. The number seven is written clearly into the life of Israel: The Sabbath celebrated on the seventh day of the week; seven weeks from Passover is Pentecost; the seventh year is the Sabbatical Year; and after forty-nine years (seven times seven) comes the Year of Jubilee. Three of Israel's feasts fall in the seventh month: the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16), and the Feast of Tabernacles.   In biblical numerology the number seven represents completeness or perfection. The Hebrew word translated "seven" (shevah) comes from a root that means "to be full, to be satisfied." The Jews were announcing the arrival of the "Year of Jubilee" for Israel in their new land. God's people today can march in triumphal procession because of the victory of Jesus Christ over all the enemies of God (Rom. 8:37; 2 Cor. 2:14; Col. 2:15). We should be living like victors, not victims. God's people don't simply fight for victory but from victory, because the Lord has already won the battle.   Reckon on His promises and obey what He tells you to do, and you also will have the victory.   God bless!