Joshua 5:13-15, 6
The Commander of the Lord’s Army
13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Chapter 6
The Fall of Jericho
1 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. 4 Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.” 6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord.” 7 And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.”
8 And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the Lord went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord following them. 9 The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually. 10 But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.” 11 So he caused the ark of the Lord to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp.
12 Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets blew continually. 14 And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.
15 On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. 16 And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city. 17 And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. 18 But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it. 19 But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord.” 20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. 21 Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.
22 But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.” 23 So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel. 24 And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. 25 But Rahab the prostitute and her father’s household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
26 Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, “Cursed before the Lord be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho.
“At the cost of his firstborn shall he
lay its foundation,
and at the cost of his youngest son
shall he set up its gates.”
27 So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Dear Heavenly Father,
You have proven that you abide by your Word. We must follow your commands exactly and you will deliver us and give us our portion that you have determined for us. Please guide me and my family and friends and everyone to incline our ears to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:31 ESV
We are shown a glimpse of things to come in Revelation. God hates evil and he will destroy the evil doers, someday.
Until then, let’s be focused on saving another for Jesus Christ.
Oh LORD, send the Holy Spirit to the wanderers in my life. I name them, one by one. Draw them to your precious son. Save their souls.
Father, hear the pleas of your Son, as he cries for them by name.
Now, let’s be going and working and doing and building the kingdom.
Amen
Amen as this is why we are here, to share the gospel with the lost and to love others the way Jesus loves us. We are to also call sin, sin and not sugar coat it.
Jesus is so good to us and I am looking forward to the day that he raptures his people.
Holy Spirit lead me and my family like you commanded Joshua. Keeps us in your hands and may your Will be done through us. In Jesus Name! Amen!
The Lord ordained the defeat and fall of Jericho and commanded and directed His servant Joshua how to lead His people to victory. And He gave an astonishing miraculous victory. And He has clearly told us His will for us in His Word and lives in us to enable us to follow Him in obedience.
May I live trusting You in all things, Lord, knowing You are mighty and faithful to fulfill all Your Word.
Good morning Lord!
“And then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.”
I find this passage extremely bothersome, especially the killing of women and the young and the elderly.
Chuck,
God hates sin and when we choose not to follow him, he is not going to continue to allow it. It’s like a parent, you can only tolerate bad behavior, disobedience and eventually there is punishment for it. In this situation it was death. How do you think God feels when we continue to be disobedient?
God fights our every battle, at what cost? Love, obedience, trust, faith, commitment and loyalty to his word.
Joshua followed God’s instructions to a “T”, what God spoke it happened.
They took over the city. He saved Rahab and family, forgiveness!! God can and he will heal our land if we humble ourselves and turn from the ways of selfishness and the world. The battle is already won, we must, believe it, receive it and abide in it. God’s plans are perfect even when we can’t comprehend them.
Father God, all things are possible in and through Christ Jesus, thank you for the victory. Increase our faith that we will be obedient in all your ways…Amen!
Thank You Lord for this day. Lord help us to be faithful followers like Joshua and his people. Help us to have total trust in all things through Christ in order to accomplish Your will. In Jesus name, Amen.
I will be obedient to the Lord’s commands, even if I don’t understand them.
Dear Lord as I think of this time of being still and knowing my You are God I can’t help but see the similarities of the people walking around Jericho in total silence. Are You going to tell Your people to shout and the walls of strongholds will come crashing down. Will then the great Revival, great awakening happen. When the sword of the Spirit will pierce the hearts of sinners. May You lead and I will follow. In Your Name Jesus Amen.