Read Joshua 6:6-27, Jeremiah 32, and 2 Corinthians 13.
This devotional is about Joshua 6:6-27.
Professional sporting events, such as NFL games, often begin with some kind of pregame ceremony. Often the pregame ceremony consists of introducing the players, but those introductions can be pretty elaborate. They might involve pyrotechnics, loud music, and a dance routine that the player does the same way before every game. The goal of a pregame ceremony is to get the players and the crowd ready emotionally and psychologically for the game. The teams also hope to intimidate the visiting team so that they come out playing less than their best.
In a similar way, some armies in Old Testament times were known to have their own pre-war rituals. But, the one described here in Joshua 6 is far more elaborate than any other prewar ritual done by any nation in those days. This one was planned by God himself. He told Israel what to do, as we saw in yesterday’s reading from Joshua 6:3-5. In our passage today, Israel did what God commanded. They:
- marched around Jericho once a day for six days in a row (v. 14).
- marched in this order: a group of armed men in the front (v. 7c, 9a, 13c), followed by seven priests blowing seven ram’s horn trumpets (v. 6c, 13a), followed by priests carrying the ark of the covenant (v. 6b, 13b), followed by another group of armed men (v. 9b).
- marched around Jericho like this again on the seventh day, but this time they went around the city seven times instead of just once (v. 15).
So, that’s the pre-war ceremony God commanded. But what did it mean?
- The fact that armed men led and followed signaled that this was a war-threat. The priests were not out there marching and blowing horns in some ceremonial act of blessing. No, they were warning the people of Jericho that they were about to be attacked and defeated by God.
- But, the presence of the seven priests blowing trumpets signified that this was a spiritual battle. They were, with the sound of their horns, warning that God was about to bring judgment on the city of Jericho.
- The priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant likewise were visually depicting that it was YHWH himself who was going to attack Jericho.
Rahab had already told Israel’s spies, back in 2:9, that the people were “melting in fear” because of Israel. Imagine the dread that must have come over them when, day after day, they watched some of Israel’s army and some of her priests march around their city. Yet, instead of welcoming God’s people in faith, like Rahab did, they made sure, according to Joshua 6:1 that the “gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites.” This is an act of defiance against God but it was useless, as we saw in verses 20-21. The best defenses that men can engineer in any age are useless against YHWH when he comes to defeat his enemies.
God has not called us to fight physical battles against his enemies. He will fight those battles when Jesus returns. But, while we wait for Jesus’ return, we have work to do for God which is somewhat like what God commanded the Israelites to do here in Joshua 6. As we make ourselves known as Christians in this world, we are like the men who marched around the city. Our actions are not violent, but they signal that God’s judgment is coming. Until his judgment comes, we are here in this world to find people like Rahab who, by the grace of God, will turn in repentance and come to follow the Lord in faith.
People may have their hearts barred securely like Jericho was and whole nations on earth are seeking to bar the door against the gospel by disallowing missionaries. It won’t matter; God will send his word to those who will turn to him in faith and he will defeat those who reject him.
The soldiers and the priests were used by God to defeat Jericho, but only after God’s divine work caused the walls to fall. Remember this: all Joshua and his men had to do was believe God’s word and do what God said. God did the work. So it is in our world. Look for receptive people like Rahab and share the gospel with them, knowing that only God can cause one to receive God’s salvation like Rahab did or experience his judgment like the rest of Jericho. Just do what God commands–deliver the gospel–and trust him to do his divine work.