The article "Jericho Taken" by Don Fortner focuses on the doctrine of faith as the means through which God's people overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, illustrated by the Israelites' conquest of Jericho. Fortner emphasizes that it was the faith of Joshua and the Israelites, grounded in God's explicit command, that led to their victory, supported by Hebrews 11:30, which highlights faith's pivotal role. He connects this faith to the person of Christ, whom he identifies as the true Captain of salvation, asserting that believers are similarly commissioned to engage in spiritual warfare, armed solely with God's Word and promise. Fortner contends that the key issues in the contemporary church's apparent impotence stem from a lack of faith and disobedience, urging believers to trust God's methods instead of relying on human strength. The practical significance lies in recognizing that triumph over spiritual obstacles is ultimately dependent on one's faith and obedience to God.
Key Quotes
“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were compassed about seven days.”
“Their Captain Israel's Captain was her God... Christ is the great I Am Jehovah himself.”
“Satan's strongholds cannot stand before a people who believe God.”
“The problem is altogether with us... We do not see Jericho's walls fall before us.”
What does the Bible say about faith and victory over obstacles?
The Bible teaches that faith in God leads to victory over obstacles, exemplified by the fall of Jericho's walls through the Israelites' faith (Hebrews 11:30).
In our spiritual warfare, the struggles we face are akin to the battles fought by the Israelites. Romans 7:14-23 and Galatians 5:17-26 remind us that Christians are engaged in a constant battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Instead of relying on our strength, we are called to trust in God's omnipotent power. Just as the Israelites obeyed God's specific commission concerning Jericho, we too must seek to follow God's directives in our lives, trusting that He will empower us to conquer every obstacle in our way.
How do we know God's promises are reliable?
God's promises are reliable because He is sovereign, faithful, and fulfills His word as demonstrated in Scripture (Isaiah 58:5, Joshua 6:1-5).
When we consider God's unwavering commitment to His covenant with Abraham, it provides further assurance that what He has promised will indeed come to pass. Our confidence in God is further bolstered by the work of Christ, who has secured victory over sin and death—proving that God's promises are not only trustworthy, but they are accomplished through His grace. Therefore, believers can rest in the certainty of God's word, knowing He will fulfill all promises made to His people.
Why is perseverance in faith important for Christians?
Perseverance in faith is crucial as it enables believers to overcome life's challenges and ultimately achieve victory through Christ (Romans 8:37).
The narrative of the Israelites conquering Jericho serves as a powerful reminder that faith and obedience lead to triumph, even against great odds. In times of difficulty, whether dealing with spiritual warfare or personal trials, it is crucial to remember that Christ, our Captain, empowers us to conquer. Thus, perseverance in faith is vital not only for our spiritual growth but also for witnessing God's glory in our lives and revealing His power in our world.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. - Hebrews 11:30Jericho Taken
“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.” Hebrews 11:30
John Brown wrote, “Faith, persevering faith, enabled Joshua and the Israelites to do what otherwise they could not have done, and by doing so, to obtain what otherwise they could not have obtained.”
Their Captain
Israel’s Captain was her God (Joshua 5:13-15). That man Joshua saw with “his sword drawn in his hand…the Captain of the host of the Lord,” was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Israel, the Captain of our salvation (Heb. 2:10). Christ is the great “I Am.” Jehovah himself, who had commissioned Moses, stood before Joshua, assuring him of success in the work he was sent to perform. This is God our Savior, the covenant keeping God who promised to Abraham the land of Canaan.
God’s ways are not our ways. His ways are never our ways. God never does things the way we would do them; and we would never do things the way God would have them done if he did not compel us to walk in his way and follow him (Isa. 58:5).
Moses was preserved in the ark of bulrushes. No mere man would ever have thought of such a method of saving a helpless boy from the king’s slaughter. David was chosen above his brothers and all the men of Israel as Israel’s king, though his own father considered him an impossible choice. The giant, Goliath, was slain by a shepherd boy’s sling. Elijah was fed by a raven. The Lord Jesus, the King of Israel, was born in a stable and laid in a manger. He put Joseph in prison and cast Daniel in the den of lions to raise them to their respective positions of usefulness for his people. God’s ways always stain the pride of man. In all things, our God teaches us to trust him and not ourselves, to lean upon his omnipotent arm and never upon the arm of the flesh. Our God is totally independent of all natural means, and superior to all “laws of nature.”
Their Commission
The children of Israel had a distinct and specific commission from the Lord. It was clear and unmistakable. The Lord God told them to take Jericho (Josh. 6:1-5). These herdsmen were required and responsible to conquer a city with nothing but the word of God for their weapon. But they had the power of God and the promise of God to accompany his word.
We, too, are engaged in a warfare. The believer’s life is a constant warfare, a warfare waged in hostile enemy territory (Rom. 7:14-23; Gal. 5:17-26). Formidable enemies, great difficulties, and powerful oppositions are encountered in the warfare of faith. We are constantly at war in this world with the world, the flesh, and the devil. The warfare is real. The struggle is difficult. But Christ our God, the Captain of our salvation goes “conquering and to conquer,” assuring us of triumph at last.
We cannot take possession of our promised inheritance except we conquer the enemy. But conquer we have, conquer we do, and conquer we shall. Christ conquered the enemy for us (John 12:32; Rom. 8:39; Col. 2:13-15). And the Lord God gives us grace, day by day, to prevail over our enemies (2 Cor. 12:9). “We are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom. 8:37).
God’s elect shall prevail at last over all our foes (Rom. 16:20; Gal. 2:20-21; Phil. 4:13; 2 Tim. 1:12; Rev. 3:5; 20:6). We each have our swelling rivers to cross, impregnable walls to pass through, and mighty enemies to conquer in this warfare. But whatever our difficulties are, our God has put them before us. They are placed in our path on purpose by the hand of our unerring, all-wise, ever good and faithful God. And our God will cause us to trample them beneath our feet (Gal. 2:20-21; Phil. 4:13; 2 Tim. 1:12). Satan’s strongholds cannot stand before a people who believe God. The very gates of hell shall fall before us (Matt. 16:18). So let us ever follow our Savior, obeying his voice, doing his will, fearing no evil.
A Question
With such promises of grace and glory, with such assurances of victory, one question must be faced and answered honestly. – Why does it appear in this day that the church of God is so impotent? Why is it that we do not see God’s mighty arm stretched out and his glory revealed in our day? Is his arm shortened that it cannot save? – No! The problem is not with our God, but with us. The problem is altogether with us. We do not see Jericho’s walls fall before us and the enemies of our God conquered for one of two (if not both) reasons. The first is our shameful, sinful failure to believe God (John 11:40; Matt. 13:58; Isa. 48:17-19).
The other is disobedience. David could not bring the ark of God up to Jerusalem because he sought not the Lord after the due order (1 Chron. 15:13). God will be served in the way he prescribes. His work will be done in his way. “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit!” God’s work will be performed in a way that honors him.
I cannot help wandering what the Lord God might do in our day, if we simply believed him and obeyed him. Let us go forth doing God’s work in his way, and dependent upon his power.
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