Joshua 6-7

Joshua 6

On the other side of the Jordan, Jericho before them, God told Joshua and the Israelites His battle plans. Marching around the city once for six days, and then on the seventh day, trumpet blasts followed by shouts and the walls of this mighty fortress fell. Notice, there were no battering rams, or heavy equipment, just obedience to God's Word.

Observation: Sometimes trusting God, really taking Him at His Word will push us into unchartered waters. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8)

Joshua 6-7
Part of the plan to plunder the great fortified city of Jericho was to make sure that they kept away from the devoted things, so that they will not bring destruction on themselves. All the silver and gold and articles of bronze were to go into the Lord's treasury.

One man (Achan) coveted material possessions, which made the whole nation guilty and Joshua deals with this man's sin according to what the Lord told him.

Before we get to Achan's death, Joshua sends out the troops into battle and they are defeated and Joshua not knowing that Achan had sinned, falls face down before God and prays. (7:6-9). This text spoke to me of the passion and courage it takes to go before God in prayer. Sure some of us have approached prayer lightly, but let us never forget that when we pray, we enter the throne room of God. We go where no man before us was ever able to go. Sure Isaiah caught a glimpse of God in a vision, Ezekiel, spoke of things almost to wonderful for paper, and John was ovrewhelmed with what He saw. When we pray, we are in the presence of the Almighty.

I am not sure where I am going with this, but the spritual disciplines seem to keeping surfacing in my mind (meditation, prayer, fasting, etc.,) Courage and Passion are needed to go deep with God.

Another thought from Joshua 7
We know that Achan' sin found him out. He admitted that he had coveted material wordly wealth (7:20-21). It took great courage and passion for Joshua and the community of Israel to deal with the sin among them. And Achan serves as a warning to us to not love the world or anything in the world. James 4:4 puts it this way, "you adulterous people, don't you know that friendship wit the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."

It takes passion and courage to be a friend of God. James calls Abraham a friend of God (James 2:23). Daring to be people of passion and courage will demand that we are different from our neighbors. Not a holier than thou attitude, but "I am sold out to Jesus Christ, no matter what" attitude.