"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days." (Hebrews 11:30)
Who shall say that faith is not a real thing? Here is something tangible, something that we can see, something that appeals to the understanding of the man of the world. A city besieged, and the walls thrown down, is a work that everybody can comprehend. Here was a city that was closely shut up and guarded, so that none might go out or in. Its walls were very high and strong, and there were giants in it. Anybody can see that great force is needed to capture it, and to lay its walls low.
But it was done, and by what means? By faith! The children of Israel believed God, and did exactly as He said, and the walls fell flat. They did not have any of the modern implements of warfare, and did not do anything according to recognized military tactics; but they took a city, and that was the end to be accomplished. No other city ever fell so easily.
What did the Israelites have to do to take this strong city that opposed their progress into the promised land? Only to march and keep silent. Thirteen times they marched around the city, without a word. For six days in succession they left their camp, marched round the city once a day in silence, and returned to their quarters. On the seventh day they went round it seven times as before, the priests leading the way with the ark containing the law the symbol of God's presence.
There was ample opportunity for the Israelites to become discouraged and disgusted with such a seemingly fruitless mode of warfare. It was a severe test to their faith, but they stood it bravely. And there was also opportunity for the inhabitants of Jericho to recover somewhat from their first surprise and terror at seeing these Hebrews, of whom they had heard so much, before their gates. The long lines of the vast host marching in mysterious silence might well cause them deep anxiety at first, which would naturally increase as the march was repeated. But as day after day passed, and no movement was made to attack, and the besiegers were as far off from taking the city as ever, their fear would give way to mockery at such childish methods of warfare.
But however much the people in the city might jeer at the seemingly useless tramp of the Israelites, the latter were never to utter a word in reply. They knew whom they had believed,--the invisible Leader who had conducted their fathers through the Red Sea and the wilderness,--and they were acting according to the words, "Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)
In quietness and confidence was their strength. (Isaiah 30:15)
The Climax
At last came the thirteenth round--the seventh march round on the seventh day. Not a stone had moved a hair's breadth in the walls, not even a bit of mortar had been chipped off; but God's time had come, and the power of faith was about to be demonstrated, as a lesson for all time. "And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout, for the Lord has given you the city. ... So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
What is the lesson of hope that we are to learn from this thing that was written aforetime? It ought to be apparent to us; yet most of us have read the record from childhood, as though it were but a nursery tale, and have been none the better for it. We have had hard battles to fight, and spirits of our own to subdue, that meant victories greater than the taking of any ordinary city, and have often given up in despair, although the means of conquest were at our disposal. Shall we not begin at once to act as though we really believed the Bible, including the account of the fall of Jericho?
Our Battle
Our battle is against sin in our flesh; our task is to work righteousness. We read that "with the heart man believes unto righteousness," (Romans 10:10) and in the taking of Jericho we have an illustration and an assurance of the reality of it. "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
There is a power infinitely greater than man, all around us and in us; and the putting of ourselves into conscious touch with this power, and in harmony with it (which is faith), will make us invincible. "If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Matthew 17:20)
What a pity that such mighty power is allowed to go to waste, so far as we are concerned, for lack of use!
Our Assistants
Angel hands cast down the walls of Jericho, when the signal was given; and the same angels are sent forth still to do service for those who shall be heirs of salvation. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14)
Our instructions are: "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life." (1 Timothy 6:12)
Jesus Christ is one with us, in our flesh, "a merciful and faithful High Priest, ... to make reconciliation for [our] sins," (Hebrews 2:17) and to succor us when we are tried by mighty foes; (Hebrews 2:18; For in that He himself has suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.) and He delivers us by "the power of an endless life." (Hebrews 7:16)
Vain imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God are cast down by the power of the eternal Spirit; and every thought is brought into captivity, to the obedience of Christ. That means that we may have the perfect knowledge of God, which comes only by personal experience of His powerful presence in us; for to know God is life eternal. "And this is life eternal, that they might know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." (John 17:3) "He that comes to God must believe that He is." (Hebrews 11:6)
To know the nature and character of God, and to believe that He is,--that He is everywhere present, filling all in all,--is the one thing essential to perfect victory over every enemy,--over the carnal mind and the lust of the flesh.
Our Victory
What must we do then? "Shout; for the Lord has given you the [victory]." (Joshua 6:16)
Do not waste time conferring with flesh and blood, or mourning over the strength of the enemy, or the many times that you have already been defeated. That is nothing to the purpose. Declare in the name of the Lord of hosts that you have the victory, and hold fast your confession. "With the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)
Be fully assured that "He is faithful that promised," (Hebrews 10:23) and that "the power that works in us," (Ephesians 3:20) is able to overcome legions of devils in the flesh. Do not say that you "cannot see how it is to be done." You do not have to see. You cannot see how the seed grows into a plant; yet you know that it is done. "So is the kingdom of God," (Mark 4:26) "[which] is within you, ... as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knows not how. (Luke 17:21,26-27)
The farmer casts seed into the ground, in perfect confidence that the power that works in all creation will give him a crop. We are to trust that same power to work in us. If the children of Israel had refrained from shouting victory, because they could not see it, they would never have had it, although God had given it to them. "This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith;" (1 John 5:4, RV) and we are to insist that it is ours, even in the face of an advancing enemy.
Our Weakness No Hindrance
The whole trouble consists in being afraid (that is, provided we really want to overcome our sins), and in considering our own weakness as contrasted with strong temptations. But the battle is God's, and not ours; and our confidence is to be in Him.
The life that we in live the flesh is to be lived by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us, and gave himself for us, (Galatians 2:20) and who is so completely our substitute that we can say, "It is not I that lives any longer, but Christ lives in me."
He is the victory, and our constant assertion that the victory is ours, in His name, is what gives us the constant experience of it. If you have some habit that you know is opposing the manifestation of the fruits the Spirit in your life, stop and consider that "you are not your own," (1 Corinthians 6:19) but that you belong to the Lord; and then allow Him full liberty to take possession of His own. Then consider further that Jesus, even in sinful flesh, is without sin because He has "power over all flesh;" (John 17:2) and He has this power, in order to give eternal life and all its power to you "that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." (John 17:2-3)
Consider that no temptation, no lust, no envy, no poverty or distress, no inherited tendency, is too strong for Him. Think of yourself, then, as entirely out of the case, as dead, and Jesus Christ as having taken your place; and then think what the result would surely be. That is to "reckon you also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:11)
When you have in all seriousness considered thus far, and the truth dawns upon your mind that it is so, then you will not be able to refrain from shouting the victory. You will know that you have the victory over the enemy that is even that moment threatening you, and you will find that this resisting the devil, (James 4:7) steadfast in the faith, (1 Peter 5:9) causes him to flee from you. This is practical experience, that has been demonstrated in thousands of cases. It never fails. "Trust in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." (Isaiah 26:4)--Present Truth, October 9, 1902--International Sunday-School Lesson for October 19--Original title: The Taking of a City. How to Win Victories--Joshua 6:8-20
E.J. Waggoner