We continue in our series in the book of Joshua as we turn our attention to the first major battle for the Promised Land. Jericho is about to suffer under the punishment of a just God at the hands (or mouths) of the Israelites shouting and trumpets blaring. As Elvis Presley would sing, “Joshua fit the battle of Jericho and the walls came a-tumblin’ down!” This week we see Israel’s obedience in faith played out as God delivers the first of many Canaanite cities.
When we think of victory, we think of successful sporting event or a military battle fought and won, but we often miss the idea of victory when it comes to God. Jesus’ battle against Satan has been won – He’s been victorious in the ultimate fight and that’s not easy to conceptualize as human beings. Our finite attention span cannot afford the vastness of God’s all seeing, all knowing mind, but what we can understand is God’s Word. He has revealed to us the victory plan in Christ. The Bible calls us to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He came to live the perfect life in order to be the perfect sacrifice, die as our substitute on the cross and live again to be our victorious Savior again. The walls of sin that separate us from God have ”come a-tumblin’ down,” thanks to Jesus’ atoning work on the cross. That victory message is one that should fuel our life and our mission as a church. God called on the Israelites to not only believe but to act as they believe. These two elements (faith and action) are two of the three parts of the triumvirate that make up the Israelite victory. Come join us this Sunday at Cash Creek at 11am to find the missing piece of the equation (Hint: Study verse 2) and why this missing piece is important.
Behind the Israelites flows the swollen Jordan River and what lies ahead is something the Israelites have never seen – a fortified city. The Israelites’ 40 years of wandering the Sinai has sheltered them from any city walls. So what lies ahead seems an insermountable task, but God is faithful to His covenant with Abraham and calls for holiness amongst His people. For the first time in 40 years, the Israelite people will observe the important Jewish ordinance of male circumcision. Israel’s 40 year trek in the wilderness was not only a literal barren wilderness but a spiritual wilderness in which the people continually rebelled against the Lord and thus lost the privilege of circumcision. If an eight day old baby could articulate his thoughts on circumcision we would not doubt understand a certain level of disapproval. Imagine, now, God has called this new generation of Israelites to holiness and that includes circumcision amongst all the Israelite men. As a result of this obedience, the Israelites are delayed in order to heal. When we look at the purpose of this seemingly strange act, we better understand the covenant God makes with His people. The Israelites are His chosen people and the act of circumcision is a sign of that covenant. This circumcision also represents what God calls, “rolled(ing) away the reproach of Egypt from you.” God has demonstrated His grace to His people again in this way by removing the disgrace of what happened in the wilderness. In addition to circumcision, God called His people to observe the Passover again in order to be obedient to the law and in so doing remembering how the Lord delievered His people from bondage in Egypt.
As Israel looks forward to Jericho and what God will do there, God, in His infinite wisdom, calls His people to a right relationship with Him. What will come in the weeks ahead is a mighty military battle that God will fight and so He calls His people to prepare spiritually. We would think the Israelites would prepare militarily, but God calls them to prepare spiritually.
As Joshua 5 closes, Joshua encounters a man with a drawn sword and inquires of this man’s allegiances. Upon speaking, Joshua realizes this is no man, this is a divine being – this is the pre-incarnate Word (see John 1:1-2). Joshua immediately falls to his face in worship of the One who will deliver His people. This mysterious encounter is one of a handful that we see in the Old Testament. Come join us this Sunday as we explore this incredible encounter with Joshua and the commander of the Lord’s hosts. Come and learn who Jesus is and what he has to say to His church that is seeking Him for a vision.
This week we continue in the Joshua 3-4 chronicle about God allowing the Israelites to cross the Jordan River on dry ground. Last week we introduced the story and how faith and trust in God played a crucial role in this narrative. Not only did the Israelites step out in faith, but it was a stepping out in faith that demonstrated or made much of God’s glory. This week, we move into chapter four which in many aspects reflects upon the events of chapter three, but takes time to commemorate through the memorial stones from the river that which God did. The stones would become a point of testimony that can be shared with future generations of Israelites.
In churches today, specifically, SBC churches, there is quite a rich heritage within our churches that represent many untold stories of how God has worked in the past. As younger and newer generations begin assuming the mantle of leadership in the church, there is much to learn from the senior saints. These saints have erected landmarks that clearly identify what God has done in the church over their lifetime, and those are stories that bear repeating. It is not the idea that we are boasting in the works of man but just the opposite – we are boasting only in Christ who affords us the opportunity for faith in Him. These landmarks or tracks we leave behind should point toward only one person and that is Jesus. This is His church, and it’s only by His grace that He allows us to be a part of it. What a blessing to serve the most high God! As we go about “church life” let us be sure to leave behind traces that will help future generations find us faithful to Christ alone.
This week’s sermon continues in the chronicles of the Israelite people as reported in Joshua 3. In Joshua 3, the Israelite people (million strong) stand before Jericho, the first big city that God will allow them to seize, but in order to begin that journey they must first cross their first obstacle. The Jordan River separates the nomadic Israelite nation from its first conquest. Getting a million Israelites across a body of water as significant as the Jordan River in this time in the year was no easy task. No bridges, ferries or fording opportunities exist to provide for the ease of passage. However, the One who can aid them will and His name is Yahweh (the LORD). God’s promises to this point have always been kept; His faithfulness to His chosen ones has never failed. God will make a way for His people even when there seems to be no way.
As a body of believers seeking out Christ’s vision for this church, we must understand that when God calls us to step out in faith (like He called the Israelites to do), we must not hesitate and fully trust that God will provide the means if we obey. Like the Israelites, we will face obstacles like the Jordan River that seem to prevent the body from moving forward, but if we approach these obstacles with faith that God will provide a way through it, we will not only reap the benefit of God’s provision but even more importantly, the name of God will be glorified amongst all. Isn’t that what we’re about? Seeing the name of Christ highly exalted should be our principal aim and one way we do that is through faith in Christ. The Lord is faithful to His chosen ones and when He calls us to do something, He will adequately equip us to carry out that which He has called us to do.
On Sunday night, we will begin what will be the first of at least five vision sessions for our church. Your attendance is necessary at all these gatherings. The dates and times are published in the bulletin for your convenience. You will not want to miss these important dates as they are crucial for the future of our church. If we are to discern God’s vision for Cash Creek, we must 1) draw close to the Lord through His word and developing that relationship with Him and 2) come together as believers to pray and discuss what God is laying on the hearts of His people. This will be the beginning of a “Great Commission Revolution,” for our church as we seek Christ and the opportunities He allows for us to share the love of Christ to the nations. Come, be a part of the “Great Commission Revolution,” and see the name of Christ glorified where it has not yet been glorified. To God be the the glory, great things He has done!
