Page 144 - Part One

surrounding nations. There was no doubt about the coming victories. Nevertheless, Israel was to
accomplish these victories precisely as God ordained. God’s ways are not our ways. Who else
would have planned that the first act of obedience would be circumcision of the men? This was
an act of consecration. God used it to confirm His covenant and to cut them free of Egypt. All
this was timed perfectly for the celebration of Passover on the west side of the Jordan, the first
Passover in the Promised Land. In the following years many more Passovers would be
celebrated but this Passover would hold a special place in their memory, just as would be
remembered the first Passover of all, when Israel came out of Egypt. In the distant future
another special Passover would be celebrated – the one Yeshua shared with His disciples. This
too was in God’s mind even at this early stage of Israel’s history – all ordered, timely and
planned.

We do well to note Joshua’s encounter with the Commander of the Lord’s Army. Are you for us
or for our adversary? was the question. No, was the answer: neither for one nor the other, but
for the purposes of God. This no must be remembered today. God is working out His purposes.
He calls us as His own special people and Israel, the nation first called, still has a special place,
but His purposes are beyond our personal victories and personal call. God is drawing a covenant
family from all nations and Yeshua is exalted high over all. Let us be grateful for inclusion in
His family, go where He is going, do what He is doing, but look beyond our personal needs to
His greater plan.

A new phase of God’s provision began: the daily supply of Manna ceased. This was a significant
new beginning for Israel’s walk of faith and obedience.

Chapter 6. Seven is the central number associated with the victory of Jericho. Seven priests,
seven shofarim (trumpets made from rams’ horns) and seven days – then a shout. This reminds
us of the time of the Lord’s return as prophesied by Paul (1 Thessalonians 4:16): He will come
with a trumpet blast and a shout. The victory at Jericho was clearly revealed as a victory from
God, to be remembered for all time, preparing the way for the coming of Yeshua. The ruins of
Jericho were to be a constant reminder for the entire world even to today. The curse spoken at
Jericho is still in force. A recent incident seems to confirm this, when an attempt to rebuild the
city was at the cost of a firstborn son of a leader of the Palestinians.

Chapter 7. The first victory was followed by the first catastrophe! We learn about God’s
sovereignty and man’s responsibility – they must work together for good, and it is possible for
mankind to sin and spoil the best. The Children of Israel were told clearly by Moses that
obedience would lead to victory against their enemies, but disobedience would lead to their
enemies triumphing over them. Here, just a few short days into the Promised Land, came the
first great reminder that God is not negligent of His Word. Achan thought that his action would
go unnoticed. After all, what harm was there in keeping a few choice articles from the great
victory at Jericho? Answer – very much harm! Not only this, but also many of the people
thought that a pattern had been established in the victory at Jericho and they were now
invincible. Off they went to conquer Ai – headstrong, proud, and in their own strength!
Embarrassing and costly defeat followed. How much we all need to learn lessons from this.
God’s people are to walk with Him in all generations. The battle belongs to the Lord is always
our cry, but only according to His instructions and His timing. We will learn this lesson time and
again as we read the Bible. Achan was identified in a systematic way when all the tribes
assembled before Joshua. He and all his family were removed from the earth along with their