Prophet of Conquest

March 14, 2021 Background Scripture: Joshua 5:13 – 6:27 Lesson Passage: Joshua 5:13 – 15; 6:1 – 5, 15, 16, 20 The Lord has strange ways. Isaiah was right when he said, “There is no searching His understanding.” Put another way, what God does, makes no sense—based on human logic. If I must fight and I want God to help me, my desire would be for God to make me stronger than my adversary. Oftentimes, God will do just the opposite. God may choose to weaken me and place me physically at a disadvantage with my adversary. If that were not enough, God may choose to also have me do something that is embarrassing on a human level. God chose Joshua as the prophet to replace Moses in leading Israel. God demonstrated His control over nature in temporarily drying up the Jordan River during the flood season. Israel walked from the East bank to the West bank of the Jordon River on dry ground. And it happened during the time of year when the Jordon overflowed its banks due to the flooding. This put fear in the hearts of the Canaanites who witnessed it. Now, the Canaanites first hope was the fortified city of Jericho. Jericho was constructed to be impregnable. It set upon a hill so that the soldiers inside the city had an advantage over an approaching army. It was surrounded by a high wall which was also quite thick. Thus, the soldiers could be stationed atop the walls and inflict mortal damage upon their attackers. Joshua was given the assignment of leading Israel in conquest of Jericho. Joshua sent two spies inside the city. However, nothing they learned would give an advantage to an attacking force against such a fortified city. But God had a plan that would utterly destroy Jericho. As stated previously, God’s plan made no sense from the standpoint of two human armies fighting each other; especially with one of them being inside a heavily fortified city. Israel was told to have a procession one time around the city of Jericho and then go back to their camp. The procession consisted of an armed Forward Guard, an armed Rear Guard, and in between the two, seven priests blowing horns followed by the Ark of the Covenant. They were to repeat this one encircling of Jericho for six days. On the seventh day, the procession was to march around Jericho seven times, the priests were to blow the horns on that seventh time, and all the people in the procession were to shout. After that, they would be able to walk into Jericho from any place around it and destroy the entire city. Joshua’s assignment was to lead the people to do exactly what God said to do. One must be a prophet of God for such an assignment. The indispensable requirement of the leader is a heart of obedience to God. None of the prophet’s logic was needed for the assignment. That’s the struggle we have with the flesh against the spirit. We want to use logic to derive a plan. We want to use brute force human strength to overcome our enemy. Neither of those is required for God’s plan. In fact, God’s plan purposely leaves no room for either. God does not allow human flesh to glory in His presence. Therefore, God’s plans are foolishness to the human mind. Can you imagine how embarrassing it was to be a part of that procession for six days—and the first six laps around the city on the seventh day? I’m sure by the third day they heard a lot of insults directed at them from the soldiers upon the walls. But Jericho was destroyed on that seventh day by using God’s plan and history records it. Because of its fortified walls and trained soldiers within, there were no human strategies that could have conquered Jericho at that time. God did not need an army to fight the battle of Jericho, He wanted an army to go in and collect the spoils of war after He destroyed the walls. God did not use a general to lead a conquering army against Jericho. He called a prophet to lead the Conquest. Robert C. Hudson February 13, 2021