Friday, December 9

JORDAN AND JERICHO: THE THRILL OF VICTORY

Joshua 3, 4, 5, & 6

As Joshua came out of Egypt and into the wilderness, he spent forty years with Moses, the most humble of God’s servants, maturing in his worship to the Lord. Now we see Joshua entering the Promised Land, step-by-step, God’s way—in victory. First, he was to sanctify himself before moving. This simply means to be clean and pure. In times past, orderly rituals were conducted to sanctify oneself. Today, God still wants us clean before coming into His presence, but it is accomplished through Jesus Christ. He alone is clean and pure. Jesus states, “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by Me.” Invite Jesus into your heart and do what He says, when He says, how He says, where He says, whether or not He tells you "why" He says. Then His righteousness, or cleanness, will be the victory in you. Joshua was not afraid; he did not dread the idea or debate it, nor was he anxious. But he rose early in the morning, meditated day and night, testified of the mighty power of God, and feared the Lord God forever!

Secondly, Joshua was to arise and “see the ark of the covenant of the Lord, then he could move from his place and go after it.” The ark represents the trinity. Only Jesus can give the will of God according to His good pleasure, and the power of God through the Holy Spirit. Joshua passionately desired the word of God and then obeyed. He recognized the sovereignty of God and then believed. He knew fully the power of God and then praised Him. Joshua waited for God before stepping into the confidence of the Lord. He believed fully, as God was with Moses, so He would be with him, never to leave or forsake him. O how his faith grew! The ark went into the Jordan before Joshua, stayed in the midst of the crossing, and went out after Joshua. Jesus has gone before us and will come after us. Now will we allow Him to be in our midst?

Thirdly, I see in God’s order, a unity in those seeking the Lord’s desire as they cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. They built an altar together, an altar testifying to the mighty hand of the Lord and a remembrance to fear the Lord God forever. This fear is an attitude of deep respect and love, resulting in a life of full surrender and worship to The Christ. This life magnifies the Lord, gains full confidence in the Lord, cuts off any hindrances to keep us away from the Lord, drives out the enemies, and passes into God’s Promised Land, the heart of Jesus!

The same order brought victory at Jericho. The people were sanctified. The Lord led the battle. All took their place as the Church was united, shouting and blowing the trumpets, according to God’s order. The city was destroyed. God says in Deuteronomy to hearken to the voice of the Lord, and keep yourself from the cursed thing, lest you be destroyed. Know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error according to I John 2:15-29. There is victory in Jesus! Sing with me………Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Glory to the New Born King………

~ Cheryl Helgert