Success is ____________________? (Fill in the Blank)
How does the world measure success? (God measures differently!)
Why take Jericho? It was the first city the Israelites encountered after crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land. It was an important border town and crossroads intersection. It was essential to advancing; all roads led through Jericho to divide Canaan. What would be the best strategy? Watch out for the archers stationed on the walls. Surround the city and cut off supplies, food, and water. Utilize both battering rams and scaling ladders to weaken the walls and gates.
God’s Instructions did not make sense. Has there ever been a time in your life when your faith was tested? When your willingness to follow was tested? God’s instructions did not seem logical and you found yourself wondering how things would work out. What’s your testimony? Did God have it right all along? God’s ways are best!
Joshua 6:1-5 “Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4 And 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. 5 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, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.”
It was certain that Jericho was prepared and strongly fortified. In fact, their faith was in those strongly fortified walls. They were invincible! But it was also certain that the outcome of the Battle for Jericho was dependent on God not the skills or weapons of the Israelites. God guaranteed victory.
Joshua and the Israelites obeyed that day; their confidence was not in their own wisdom, strategy, or military might, but their confidence was in the presence, power, and protection of God.
What collapsed the walls of that once proud city?
Heb. 11:30 “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.”
“Faith is the victory that overcomes the world!”
So what is success? Success is Obedience!
Heb. 11:6a “But without faith it is impossible to please Him..”