Faith at Jericho

Articles

Derek Long
06/30/19 - Faith

Faith at Jericho
By Derek Long
Moses led the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage.
They saw the many signs and wonders God had worked to bring them out of Egypt, keep them alive on their journey, and even heard God speak from the mountain. As they approached the land of Canaan and came to Kadesh Barnea, they sent twelve spies into the land (Numbers 13:1-2). Ten of the twelve spies tell the people, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we” (Numbers 13:31). Two of the spies stood up and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome
it” (Numbers 13:30). The children of Israel heeded the report of the ten and as a result failed to trust and believe God’s promises to them. Hebrews 3-4 uses the generation of people who refused to enter the land as an example warning us not to be a people of disbelief and disobedience. Hebrews 11 mentions the next generation of Israelites, who under the leadership of Joshua, enter the promised land and capture the city of Jericho by faith. Hebrews 11:30-31 says, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.” The Israelites conquered the city of Jericho by faith and Rahab saved herself and her household by faith. What are some lessons we can learn from these examples of faith from the Old Testament?
• Faith is necessary to receive God’s gift. Joshua 6:2 says, “And the
Lord said to Joshua: ‘See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.’” God gave Jericho to the Israelites. It was God’s gift to them. God required them to do something to receive this gift from Him. God told them to march around the city wall one time a day for six days and on the seventh day to march around the wall seven times (Joshua 6:3-5). The priests were to blow the trumpets, the people were to shout, and they could go up before them and take the city. Today, people want to claim if something is given to them by God they cannot do anything to obtain the gift. The example of the taking of Jericho reminds us God may give us something and yet require us to do something to obtain the gift. Romans 5:2 says, “Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand.” Faith is what gave one access to God’s grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Salvation by grace requires us to have faith. Hebrews 11 shows the type of faith which receives God’s gift is a faith which is obedient to God’s commandments.
• Faith obeys God’s commands even if God’s commands do not make sense from a human perspective. If one thinks about the normal way to conquer a walled city, it is not to simply walk around the walls, blow trumpets, and shout. When Israel followed God’s commands for how to conquer the city of Jericho, they were demonstrating their faith in God and His plan instead of in themselves. Today, people may question how God’s commands work or why God would require certain things of an individual but people of faith will trust God’s plan and obey His commands.
• Faith does not require a large amount of evidence. Faith is based upon evidence but it does not require an excessive amount of evidence. Rahab has faith in God despite not being a part of the nation of Israel and personally witnessing some of the things the Israelites had seen. Rahab’s faith can be seen in her statement in Joshua 2:9-13 to the spies. She said, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God,
He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.” Rahab heard these things God had done for Israel in their past and trusted He would deliver the land to them as He promised. Today, people may complain about not having enough evidence to have faith in God but Rahab shows us we don’t need much evidence to have faith in God. In addition, notice how all the inhabitants of Jericho believed God would deliver the city to Israel yet only Rahab did something based upon this belief. In order to be saved like Rahab was, our faith must be accompanied by works of faith. James 2:25-26 says, “Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”