By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. (Hebrews 11:30) Jericho was a great city that seemed unconquerable and to the world in those days was considered the most fortified city in existence. It was Jericho that stood between the children of Israel and the Promised Land. The walls of this mighty city represented a barrier which prevented the people of God from fulfilling what God’s will in their lives was to be.
We all have a ‘Jericho’ in our lives. We encounter obstacles that stand between us and God, as well as fortifications which create barriers between the fulfillment of the Lord’s will in our lives and His rewards and blessings for us. Some are personal barriers and others are the devil and his minions attempting to maneuver themselves through temptation to hinder the path, plan and purpose of God.
What is your 'Jericho' today? Is it an unhappy marriage? Frustration at work? Problematic and undisciplined children? Disgruntled co-workers? Caustic rumors? Troubled relationships? Maybe your 'Jericho' is personal, in the sense that it is borne of selfish actions, sinful thoughts or sensual desires.
Nevertheless, for every Jericho and its fortified walls, there is a fortress of faith that can and will commence the battle to destroy those fortified walls and assure victory in our lives. Verse 30 in the 11th chapter of Hebrews says it is “by faith” that walls fall down Not fighting, feuding or finance - FAITH! It was by faith that the walls of Jericho fell and it is by faith that the walls of your ‘Jericho’ will fall as well. Friend, faith is the link that binds our weakness with the Lord’s omnipotence. This faith is known as a defeating faith in the life of the believer, one that requires us to perform something against our own nature.
Within this defeating faith, we find Worship. As recorded in Joshua 5, we find that the children of Israel had crossed the river Jordan and were ready to claim their possession (vs.13-15). Their leader, Joshua, was evaluating the challenges posed by the walls of Jericho which appeared to hinder the city's conquest when a Man suddenly appeared with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua approached the Man asking, “Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?". His answer was "Nay". The Man Joshua met was the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ, the Captain of the Lord’s host and it is not a question of whether the Man was on Israel’s side, but whether they were on His side. It was then and there that Joshua worshipped the Lord, communing with Him to provide the needed direction in acquiring the faith to defeat the mighty walls of Jericho.
From the worship, we find the Work (Joshua 6:1-5). God’s plan of victory for Joshua and the children of Israel to conquer Jericho was not to dig trenches, construct bridges, charge the walls or build trebuchets. His plan was to do something that to the human mind made no sense whatsoever. I wonder if some of the Israelites were asking themselves, “what in the world are we doing?”. Faith, my friend, is based on following the Lord’s direction and His plan of action, even when it seemingly makes no sense at all. Many times, Christians become discouraged and will stop serving faithfully because the world disagrees with how or what they are commanded to perform in obedience to Scripture.
This brings to light the next aspect of faith, the Wait. Many cannot understand that often times we are commanded to work and then to wait on the outcome. It is here that many become impatient, falling and surrendering their place and position in the battle. In Joshua 6:14-15, the Israelites compassed the city of Jericho for six days while nothing appeared to occur in their eyes. Yet on that seventh day, word came to the people from Joshua to “Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city." Notice the word "hath". It was as if the victory had already been won and in the mind and eyes of God, it had. Isaiah said, “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…” The victory is the Lord’s and it has already happened! We just need to have the faith that will defeat the "Jericho" in our lives.
When we wait, the Lord provides the Wonder. In Joshua 6:20, the walls collapsed and fell flat so the people could move forward and take the city. Jericho, a city which had been built so strong and was seemingly impenetrable, simply fell flat. That is a defeating faith, one that will fall flat and crumble the obstacles in our lives if we will wait, work and worship. Beloved, God has given you the victory!
On the top of the rocky summit overlooking the bay where the good ship “Mayflower” first cast her anchor, is a magnificent statue. On the four corners of its huge pedestal are seated four figures representing Law, Morality, Freedom, and Education, emblematic of the four-square foundation that supports our whole national life. Rising high above these four figures is a glorious granite shaft on which stands a heroic-sized figure of Faith. In one hand she holds an open Bible, symbolizing the religious Magna Carta of American history, while the other hand is raised aloft, pointing to the great white throne of God in the heavens. The religious figure of Faith is seen rising above the foundation figures of Law, Morality, Freedom, and Education. Thus is shown the supremacy of the religious element in American history. So long as that element remains as a dominating influence and quickening power, so long will America remain “the land of the free” and the light of mankind.
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