FAITH
Text: Hebrews 11
Lesson Fifteen – V.30
Examples of the ancients who were commended for their faith: (Cont’d.)
JOSHUA: V.30 – By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
Note that, although he is not named, Joshua was the leader. See Joshua 1:1-8.
Let us thank the Lord for the One Who is leading us to “glory.” Hebrews 2:10 – In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
The walls of Jericho – These were massive walls and were much relied on as a source of security. It is said that the walls were double and were fifteen feet apart, with the inner one being twelve feet wide and the outer six feet wide, both being thirty feet high.
Let us thank the Lord for reminding us to trust Him as our source of security. Note:
Psalm 20:7 – Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Proverbs 18:10 – The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
See Joshua 6 for the narrative of the “Fall of Jericho.”
Joshua 6:1– Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
Whereas, throughout the ages, the enemy has been trying to block the way to the Heavenly Canaan, let us thank the Lord that He continues to defeat the attempts. Note:
Acts 14:27 – On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
1 Corinthians 16:8-9 – 8But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
Revelation 3:7-8 – 7“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Joshua 6:2 – Then the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.
(a) – Then the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands – The people of Jericho had been aware of this. Note:
Joshua 2:8-9, 23-24 – 8Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.
23Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. 24They said to Joshua, “The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”
Let us thank the Lord for using this to remind us of the “coming great event.” Acts 1:9-11 – 9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 – 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.
(b) – Along with its king and its fighting men – Note Deuteronomy 7:24 – He will give their kings into your hand, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven. No one will be able to stand up against you; you will destroy them.
Let us thank the Lord for reminding us that His promises are sure. Numbers 23:19 – God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
Joshua 6:3-27 – Herein are specific instructions and obedience. The method used in this conquest is an example of 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (Contemporary English Version) – 3We live in this world, but we don’t act like its people 4or fight our battles with the weapons of this world. Instead, we use God’s power that can destroy fortresses. We destroy arguments 5and every bit of pride that keeps anyone from knowing God. We capture people’s thoughts and make them obey Christ.
See Ephesians 6:10-18; 1Timothy 6:11-16.