By Faith the Walls Came Down

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. - Hebrews 11:30

    “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.” Hebrews 11:30

    Jericho’s walls fell because Israel believed God. Their faith was tried and proved and, after persevering the trial God put before them, prevailed.

    When Israel crossed Jordan, they burned their bridges behind them. They were cut off from flight; they had no houses to which they could flee, and no fortress to which they could retreat. They were now in hostile enemy territory. They would either conquer their enemies and take Jericho, or they would perish. There was no way back. They must move forward. Jericho must fall.

    Degrees of Faith

    Faith is much more than a matter of speculation or theory. It is a living principle; and every living thing grows. There are degrees of faith. We do not grow in justification, holiness, and acceptance with our God. But believers do grow in faith as we grow in grace. We grow in grace as we grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. And we grow in faith by the blessed discipline of grace (Heb. 12:5-11).

    Faith receives Christ (John 1:12). Receiving Christ, we are taught to reckon as our God does (Great reckoning this is!) that we are entirely justified before him by Christ’s obedience and death as our Substitute (Rom. 6:11). As the Lord God graciously causes believing men and women to grow in grace and grow in faith, they become more and more confident of him, being persuaded (convinced and confident) that he will perform his Word, fulfill his promises, and accomplish all that he has undertaken on behalf of his people (Phil. 1:6; 2 Tim. 1:12).

    It is confident faith that enables insignificant nobodies to accomplish impossible things, because the strength by which faith operates is the God upon whom faith relies. Believing God, Moses dared defy Pharaoh and the armies of Egypt. Believing God, for the cause of his honor, David took on Goliath, fully confident that he would slay the giant and save Israel; and he did. Believing God, Elijah delivered Israel from the idolatry of Baal worship and influence of his vile prophets. Believing God, Paul was completely comfortable in the face of sure and certain death.

    God Honored

    God always honors those who honor him (1 Sam. 2:30), and nothing so honors

    our God as believing him. God honors faith because faith honors him. The great missionary, William Carey, once challenged an assembly of preachers to “Ask great things of God; expect great things from God, undertake great things for God.” He accepted his own challenge and was honored of God with success beyond human measure. Joshua and the children of Israel were obedient to God because they believed God (Josh. 6:3-4, 6-8). They honored God by their faith; and God honored them with victory. “Lord, I believe. Help Thou mine unbelief!”