We have the lesson this morning is on the lessons from the fall
of Jericho. And of course, that's a very
familiar Old Testament story and Jericho was the first city that
Israel had to face and defeat when they went into the Promised
Land. There are many things and of
course, many all of the old lesson Old Testament stories,
give us insight to God and to how what he demands of his
people and how they how he reacts to their service to him.
And so we can learn a lot about God and what God wants of us.
So that's what we'll that's our purpose, this morning.
Of course, God had promised the land, the promised land to
Abraham and to his descendants. And it wasn't until after God
many many years after Abraham that God delivered his people
from Egypt, the bondage of Egypt and led them to the promised
land. And of course, with a great show
of power and deliverance and so Moses LED them To the promised
land and Moses sent 12 Spies into the land to spy it out.
And that was a spy for each of the tribes of Israel.
The 12 tribes of Israel and they came back with a glowing report.
After 40 days of looking over the land, they came back and
even had samples of the, of the great fruit that the land board
and they said, indeed it is a land that flows with milk and
honey. But they also said, there's
Giants in the land and the cities are fortified or walled,
the King James says, and he says, we're like grasshoppers in
the sight of these people. And so, all of the people
followed these spies, the ten of the twelve spies.
There were two Caleb and Joshua who said, no, we can go in
there. God brought us here, God wants
us to have this land and we can go and take it and they were
nearly stoned. The people almost stoned,
Joshua, and Caleb for their report.
So they got onto the side of the ten tribes of the ten spies, and
they're pessimistic. View.
And of course, God was not pleased to say the least God was
not happy. In fact, it took the
intercession of Moses to save the people because God said,
I'll destroy them and I'll raise up people through you.
But Moses interceded. And God, so God held back his
wrath, but he still punished them.
He would not allow these people to enter into the promised land
and he sent them back into the Wilderness and for 40 years,
they wandered in the wilderness. This until all those people of
age perished in the wilderness. And, you know, this is really a,
this is really a lesson for us. And the Bible talks about us
being in the wilderness as essentially, and they be inning
an example to us. So what we should not do, you
know, we live in this world of Trials and temptations test if
you will. And And we must be faithful, we
must keep our faith up. They perished in the wilderness
because of their lack of faith. And that's what the scripture
says here. Therefore, as the holy spirit
says, today if you will hear his voice, do not Harden your hearts
as in the rebellions, in the day of the trial in the wilderness
where your father's tested me, tried me and saw my Works 40
years. Therefore, I was angry with that
generation and said they always go astray in their hearts and
they have not known my ways. So, I swore in my wrath, they
shall not enter into my rest. Yeah.
Beware Brethren lest there, be in any of you, an evil heart of
unbelief in departing from the Living God.
But exhort one, another daily while it is called today.
Lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin
and then in chapter 4 and 11, he said, let us therefore be
diligent to enter that rest. Lest anyone fall according to
the same example of unbelief, they fell and perished because
of unbelief, we can't do. And we need to be careful not to
follow. Their example and we're to
exhort one another and encourage one another along our way, so
that we do not lose faith. God commissioned Joshua and I'd
like to read all of this verse here.
Because this is really, this is interesting.
Really a lesson in this reading here.
I'm looking at the board, it looks like I have a lot more on
my page, then on the board. After the death of Moses, of
course, Moses Moses to was not allowed to enter into the
promised land. Moses was a faithful servant of
God, but he had sins to, and because of his sins, God didn't
allow him to enter into the promised land Moses died.
Before they went in, Moses went up to Mountain.
Mount more about Nebo Whoa, Mount Nebo and there.
He was able to see across Jordan and see the promised land at
least, but he died there on the mountain and Joshua took over
the lead of the reins of leading the people into the promised
land. After the death of Moses, the
servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to
Joshua. The son of nun.
Moses assistance, saying Moses, my servant is dead now.
Therefore, arise and go over this.
Jordan, you and This people to the land which I'm giving to
them the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of
your foot will tread upon I have given you.
As I said to Moses from the Wilderness of this Lebanon, as
far as the Great River, the river Euphrates, all the land of
the Hittites and to the great sea toward the going down of the
sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand
before you all the days of your life as I was with Moses so I
will be with you You, I will not leave you nor forsake you be
strong and of good courage for to this people.
You shall divide as an inheritance, the land which I
swore to their fathers to give them only be strong and very
courageous that you may observe to do.
According to all the law which Moses my servant, commanded you
do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left that you may
Prosper, wherever you go, this book of the law shall not depart
from your mouth. But you shall meditate in it day
and night and you shall observe to do according to all that it
is written for when you will make your way for then you will
make your way prosperous. And then you will have good
success. Have I not commanded you be
strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid.
Nor be dismayed for the Lord. Your God is with you.
Wherever you go. That's a link to reading, I
know. But the point is that God told
Joshua Just what he's telling us what we need to follow and
Joshua would Prosper were in in everything he did.
If he kept the law, if he kept following God, kept God's law in
his heart and mind meditated upon it, God would be with him
and bless him. And we see constantly that
proven and with Jude with Joshua, Joshua is really
remarkable leader. He was a great leader and
there's some things in this lesson, really that I really
hadn't noticed before. But here God commissions him and
commands him, keep my law. And I'll be with you and I'll
lead you and you'll have success.
If you'll do just that Joshua sent spies into into Jericho and
There's the rest of that verse. I was wondering where that was
Joshua spits, two spies into into Jericho.
They went in, they looked over the city and it was it was a
they saw the city and they lodged in the in the house of a
harlot named Rahab. Now, the people, the officers
are the, maybe the police or the officials.
Anyway, of the city found out that that they were there, and
they came to rahab's house to find them and she hid them.
She hid them in in straw flax straw, which is up on the roof
and the people came and knocked on the door said We want those
men who came into your house and she said, do they?
They've already left. And if you hurry, you might
catch him and so they the the officers left and went went
after the Israelites and she went up and spoke to them.
Said, you stay here for a little while and then you can go and
you'll be safe but promise me. That that you will.
When you come promise me that you will protect us, she says to
them, 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 faint-hearted because of you, for we have
heard how the Lord dried up the water of the river, the Red Sea
for you when you came out of Egypt and what you did to the
two kings of Amorites who are 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 their remain. Any more courage in anyone
because of you for the Lord, your God, he is God in heaven
above, and on Earth beneath You know, it struck me that here a
stranger knew and believed in the god of Israel.
What happened to the Israelites? When they came to the promised
land, what happened to them? They were Witnesses.
Eyewitnesses of all that God did for them.
He or she just heard the story. And now all the people of the
land, they have no strength to fight their, they have lost
their will to fight because they know that the god of the
Israelites are there and they will come and and be victorious.
So, here's another verse, which is These verses here.
God, Jesus it's it's understood appears to Joshua.
Now, we know that Jesus had work in the Old Testament.
He said to be the rock, which followed them in the wilderness
and here, Joshua worships this being and it came to pass when
Joshua was by Jericho that he lifted his eyes and looked and
behold. A man stood opposite him with
his sword drawn in his hand and Joshua went to him and said to
him, are you for us or for our adversaries?
So he said, no. But as commander of the armies
of the Lord, I have now come and Joshua, fell on his face on the
earth to the Earth and worshipped and said to him, what
does my Lord say to his servant then the commander of the Lord's
army said to Joshua? Take your sandals, off your foot
for the place where you stand is, Holy And Joshua did.
So that was very interesting to me.
I had noticed that verse before. But here Joshua sees the Lord
and speaks to the Lord commission's him.
And here, he gives them further instructions about what he is to
do when he comes to Jericho and how they will, they will fight
the Battle of Jericho. Now Jericho was securely shut up
because of the children of Israel.
None, one out and none came in and the Lord said to Joshua see
I have given Jericho into your hand.
It's king and the Mighty Men of Valor.
You shall March around the city all your men of War you shall go
all around the city once this you do six days and the Seven
priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams horns before
the ark, but the seventh day you shall March around the city
seven times and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
It shall come to pass when they make a long blast with the Ram's
Horn. And when you hear the sound of
the trumpet than all that, all the people shall Shout with a
great shout, then the wall of a city will fall down flat and the
people shall go up every man, straight before him.
So this is the Joshua has given the instructions of what he's to
do. And they basically do that
Jericho, again, was the first city they encounter as they go
into the promised land. And it's a very large and a
fortified city has walls, and the archaeologists say that this
wall was 14 feet, thick, So it's a very fortified of course with
that wide of a wall that could have Armament all around the top
of the wall. And so it was very secure.
And certainly the spies who were, who had scope this out
before? The 12 Spies, they saw this and
saw how well fortified the cities were, and so that's why
they were, they were faint hearted, but there's a different
story in a different different now attitude going in here.
Because with Joshua's leadership, they're trusting in
the Lord, and they have faith and confidence that they will
will be Victorious. And and the law.
Lord gives him that confidence as well.
So they do, they do just what just what the Lord says and and
they conquer the city. They, of course, as the Lord had
instructed them, they go in. And they for six days, they go
to the city and the priests are walking.
There's a, there's a company of soldiers in front of the Ark and
then there's the priest with the Ram's Horn.
Then there's the Ark of the Lord, and then there's another
company of soldiers and they go In and all of the army of
Israel, marches around the city. And they're blowing the trumpets
one time. And then the next day, they do
the same thing for six days. They do that the seventh day.
They March around the city seven times and I imagine, there were
well there had to be thousands of soldiers.
In fact, I read earlier, you know, some of the some of the
tribes stayed on the other side of Jordan.
I think there were two or three of those tribes there was 40,000
soldiers who went to help them conquer the land.
So of just those there were 40,000 and then the are the
soldiers of all the others thousands, tens of thousands of
soldiers, circling the City Marching around the city and to
do that seven times, I'm sure took a long time and I imagine I
just imagine it took most of the day but on the seventh day when
they stop, And have done it. The 7th times they stop and they
blow the trumpets, the priests blow, the trumpets long, and
then all the people shout and the walls fall down and they
Advance onto the city from All Points around the city, straight
ahead and conquer the city. You know, that's a, it's an
interesting story and of course. So we believe these things are
true. I read some things.
You know, in the encyclopedia Bible encyclopedia that gave
reasons why the wall fell, but we know it just fell by the
power of God. One point was that the, the the
soil was soft, you know, we have some trouble here in with
earthquakes and you have to have a very good foundation and you
Build on top of newerth. You have to dig down to to the
solid earth there. So I think it's called
liquefaction, when there's a when there's an earthquake, the
soft soil becomes softer and and liquid like and stuff just sinks
right down into it. And they say that the soil there
was like that. But certainly, the trauma of the
tramping of the feed and the shouting, and the trumpet
blasting would not be enough to shake the Earth.
Earth to cause the the walls to fall into and to be destroyed,
it took the power of God and this is a great miracle and this
is the this is the way of God and God demonstrated that he was
the Victor for them not by anything they did.
But he was the victor. And you know, the Bible's plane
that God's ways are not man's ways, it teaches us that very
well. And Isaiah says, for my thoughts
are not your thoughts, nor are my are your ways.
My ways says the Lord for, as the heavens are higher than the
earth. So are my ways higher than your
ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
It's really demonstrated in the, in the victory of her Jericho,
What what soldier or what? General would devised this plan?
To do all of that. They did to conquer the city and
to make the walls fall down. Nobody men have other ideas.
They might encircle the city and, you know, keep kind of
quarantine it and let the people people in the city starve
because they can't get Provisions.
Like the Romans did Jerusalem. They surrounded Jerusalem.
And, and the people were starving to death because they
couldn't get Provisions. That's man's ways.
But this is God's ways and so God's ways are different than
man's ways. We can't devise the way to come
to God. God has devised that we must get
that instruction from God, to know, how he would want us to
approach him and serve him. It's really Illustrated in, in
baptism. You know.
I've got this in the wrong spot. I added this later.
And so I have to skip that and come to that later, we'll
probably just read it from the book.
Novel know the teachings of baptism are so playing.
They are so playing that you wonder how people can miss it,
but people want to miss it. They can't get around the idea
that that God requires us to do something.
You know, the children of Israel had to do something.
God was going to win them the victory, he promised them that
but they had to do something. And they just had to obey him.
Jesus said about baptism, he who believes and is baptized, will
be saved, but he, who does not believe will be condemned acts,
22 and 16. Paul is reiterating or
retelling, the story of his conversion and had what ananias
told him, he said, and now, why are you tearing arise and be
baptized and wash away? Your sins.
Calling on the name of the Lord Acts 2:38, then Peter said to
them. Repent.
And let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ. For the remission of sins and
you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
You know, it's just hard to see how people could miss it.
We see the examples or studying in Acts again, and again, people
are baptized when they are converted, that's part of their
obey obedience to Christ because that was his command to believe
and be baptized This is about remission from ax2 + 38.
The, the term there they are, says release as from bondage,
imprisonment, forgiveness, pardon of sins properly, the
letting them go. As if they had not been
committed remission of their penalty.
That's there's definition of the word remission Vine says denotes
Redemption A price of release in Hebrews 11 and 35.
It is translated Deliverance. Usually the release is affected
by the payment of a ransom or the required price.
You know, here, Peter says, when Once the long-suffering of God,
waited in the days of Noah, he's talking about Noah and how the
people were saved at the time of Noah by water.
He says, while the ark was a preparing wherein few, that is
eight Souls were saved by water. The like will figure, whereunto,
even baptism doth also. Now, save us, not the putting
away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience towards God. By the resurrection.
Jesus Christ. People say oh, you believe in
water salvation, Well, the scripture says we're saved by
water because we're obeying, we must obey.
That's the command to obey He says, for the remission of sins.
Now, the little term for there is a defined down below.
They dismiss this by saying, your sins are already the
denomination's that that dismiss baptism that baptism is not
essential. They say your sins are already
forgiven. You're baptized because of They
say remission of sins but that's not what that term means.
It's not used that way, anywhere else.
This is the youngs literal translation of Acts 2:38 and
Peter said, unto them reform and be baptized each of you in the
name of Jesus Christ, to remission of sins and ye shall
receive the gift of the holy spirit's they are says, with the
primary idea of motion. And into any place or thing.
Also of motion to direction to toward or upon any place or
thing, the antithesis antithesis is expressed by X Out of the
opposite of this term is out of. So this is into or for the
remission of sins. You know, people will do
anything and as the Bible says, they will, All Tris twist or
rest, the scriptures to suit themselves or to their own
destruction to make it say what they want to dismiss themselves
or because they don't want to be baptized.
They don't want to say that you need to do anything.
The Bible says, we must do something.
Here we go. Here's that.
Where I wanted to use that verse and James the second chapter he
says, Thus also Faith by itself. Does not have Works Faith by
itself. If it does not have works is
dead, but someone will say you have faith and I have Works.
Show me your faith without your works and I will show you my
faith by my works. You believe there is one God.
You do. Well, even the demons believe
and tremble. But do you want to know a
foolish man? That faith without works is
dead, Was not Abraham Our Father justified by works when he
offered Isaac. His son upon the altar.
Do you see that Faith was working together with his works
and by works Faith was made perfect.
And the scripture was fulfilled, which says Abraham believed God
and it was accounted to him for righteousness and he was called
the friend of God. You see?
Then that a man is justified by works.
And not by faith. Only likewise also 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 Rahab.
She was saved by her works and and so, will we?
And so the only time that the Bible ever says anything about
faith without It works is when it says we are not saved by
faith without works. So we must work the works of
righteousness. The power of God.
The caught the power of God is made manifest in this story.
You know, it's obviously was God's power, which brought down
those walls and that was, that was really a, a A demonstration
for them, certainly a boast, a boost for their confidence and
going forward and and and conquering other battles.
You know you look about and you can see the power of God and
we've recently heard the lessons which brought that out that God
is Manifest in his creation. You look at the solar system.
The vastness of space and and it's just hard to take it all
in. But God created all that God
spoke it into existence, this world and the nature, our
bodies, you know, Michael Fox years ago before he left here,
gave me a book which shows called we are fearfully and
wonderfully made and it talks about our the human body and the
complexity of it and it goes into, you know, the science of
it and and all of that. It's very interesting but it's
proves The that, you know, the infinite wisdom and knowledge or
power of God that created it. Things that that the that men
are still learning and can't understand.
My point is that all of this is God's a manifestation of God's
power. And so we must rely on that, we
must rely on the power of God to to face our enemies, the enemies
of the faithful, the enemies of righteousness here.
It says we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but
against principalities against Powers against the rulers, of
the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of
wickedness, in the Heavenly places.
How can we Face that? How could we battle that without
the power of God? Take.
Therefore, therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you
may be able to stand to withstand in the evil day and
having done all to stand. That's what we need to face evil
and to face Temptation or trials or you know persecution to go on
about our daily living. We need the power of God.
Romans 1:16 says it's the power of God the gospel.
Is the power of God. He said I'm not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to Salvation for
everyone who believes to the Jew first.
And also to the Greek, the gospel, Remember what God?
What the, what God told, Joshua, keep this in your heart and in
your mind and in your mind and and you'll be successful and we
will too. Obedience.
Again, the children of Israel were successful because of
Faith, Hebrews 11 and 30, they, they were successful against
the, the walled city of Jericho because of their faith.
We will be too because of our faith, we will be victorious.
If we have, we accessed the faint, the grace of God, through
our faith and obedience, Matthew 7.
And 24, therefore whosoever, hears these sayings of mine and
does them. I will liken him to a wise man
who built his house on the rock and the rain descended and the
floods came and the winds blew and beat on that house.
And it did not fall for was founded on the Rock but whoever,
but everyone who hears these sayings of mine and does not do
them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand,
and the rain descended and the floods came and the The winds
blew and beat on that house and it fell and great was its fall.
It'd be a real loss, a great loss.
If in the end, we don't make it. Wouldn't it?
We will make it. If we are here the sayings of
the Lord and do them are faithful in them faithful and
obeying them. But if we do not It'll be a
terrible, terrible loss. Jesus obeyed.
You know, people that it's a predominant teaching that you
you are saved by faith only. That's predominant in the
denominational World. Jesus had to obey.
Jesus obeyed to. Though he was a son yet, he
learned obedience by the things which he suffered.
And having been perfected, he became the author of Eternal
salvation to all who obey him. Jesus obeyed God, and he set
that example, as we should obey. First John three, two and three.
Now by this, we know that we know him if we keep his
Commandments he who says I know him and does not keep his
Commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him but whoever
keeps his word. Truly, the love of God is
perfected in him by this. We know that we are in him.
By obeying him. We know that we are in him, he
who says he abides in him. Ought himself also to walk just
as he walked Jesus set the example and as Jesus walked.
So should we You know, they had a problem.
The Israelites they had a problem.
They were told not to take anything from the city.
Everyone was to be destroyed, everyone.
And every creature. All the animals, all the people
were to be destroyed and burned and all the possessions of the
land were to be destroyed. He says they're Joshua is
telling the people and warning them you buy and You by all
means of staying from the accursed thing.
Lest you become accursed when you take of the curse thing and
make the camp of Israel, a curse and trouble it.
But all the silver and gold, the vessels of bronze and iron are
consecrated to the Lord. They shall come into the
treasury of the Lord. So that was their warning, they
were not to take anything. Even the golden several silver
that was to be given to the Lord and used in the Lord's house but
someone Aiken took a nice Garment of Babylonian garment,
and some gold, and he hid it in his tent, but the children of
Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed thing
for. Akin the son of car me, the son
of Zebedee. The son of Zera of the tribe of
Judah, took of the accursed thing, so the anger of the Lord
burned against the children of Israel.
The children of Israel had to fight the next battle, was
against a smaller group, a, I think it's pronounced, it's
spilled a. I so I don't know if it's a or
I, but they, they had to fight them and they were just a small
group. So, they said, well, everybody
doesn't have to go out against this small group and it'll be
basically a cakewalk, but they were whipped.
The armies of a whip them and drove them away and 36 men of
Israel died. And Joshua was, of course, tore
up. He put on sackcloth and Ashes
and tore his clothes and prayed to God.
And God, basically said, get up washer washer face.
He said, the people have sinned, that's why you lost.
He said, Israel has sinned and they have also transgressed my
Covenant, which I commanded them for.
They have even taken some of the accursed things and have both
stolen and deceived, and they have also put it among their own
stuff there. For the children of Israel could
not stand before their enemies, but turn their backs before
their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction,
neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the
accursed thing. People had to die because of
that. That man's covetousness.
And that was a punishment. God promised that would happen.
And so God carries out his promises.
They found it. They found the, you know, the
they found the tent that it was in and the man who had gotten
it. It, he confessed, he, his family
and his children were killed and his possessions and the
garments. He stoled, and the things that
he had coveted, they were burned.
And then God was again on the side of Israel.
Yeah. What God promises.
He'll he'll perform. so, you know, people think God's loving
And God is the Bible says, God is love.
But God's also just and he promises, he'll Eternal
punishment. Some people won't believe that
they can't God would not do that.
God will he promises? And as sure as there's a heaven.
There's a hell. We can count on that.
God. God destroyed Jericho and
carried out his part and all the people rushed in and destroyed
the city, and all of the things of the city with the edge of the
sword. Then Joshua says, to the two
men, the two spies. He said to the two men who had
spied out the country, go into the harlots house.
And from there, bring out the woman and all that she has as
you swore to her and the young men who had been spies went in
and brought out Rahab her father, her mother her brothers
and all that she had. You know, her house was on the
wall. She was saved.
Her part of the wall didn't go. God carries out his promises.
She was to be safe because of her righteousness.
And she, she was safe, Hebrews 11 31 by faith.
The Harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe
and she had received when she had received the spies with
peace. She became the great-grandmother
of King David. I hope we can.
Learn some things from these from the from these lessons of
the Old Testament. You know, God has promises for
the faithful and He will carry out his promises.
And these verses are just verses of encouragement because God God
does will fulfill his promises if the promise of Destruction or
the promise of Eternal peace and life.
Philippians 4:6 at the bottom there be anxious for nothing.
But in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God.
God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will
guard your hearts and Minds through Jesus Christ.
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