Year 1, Week 24, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 24, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Joshua 5-6.

Today’s reading records the first victory in Israel’s military conquest of the Promised Land. Joshua 6 describes the details of how Israel destroyed the city of Jericho. The military strategy that the LORD gave to Joshua required genuine dependence upon the LORD, and in spite of its odd tactics militarily, the strategy proves effective. The strategy proved that the LORD himself secures the victory: “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor” (Joshua 6:2). But first, Joshua 5 records the necessary preparations that were in order on the eve of a military campaign. Israel’s necessary preparations for battle entailed obedience to the LORD (a whole generation disobeyed the LORD specifically on the matter of circumcision) and worship of the LORD. Joshua 5 concludes with an encounter, which is reminiscent of the initial encounter between Moses and the LORD at the burning bush. The LORD (or a messenger of the LORD) appears to Joshua and declares: “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy” (Joshua 5:15).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the clear emphasis that the LORD was the conqueror: “Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.” (Psalm 108:12-13). Israel’s key to victory was to trust in the LORD and obey Him. “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.” (Hebrews 11:30). It was the LORD who accomplished the victory. The instructions that Moses is provided are not military orders, but an order of worship. The blasts of trumpets themselves do not bring down fortified walls; the blasts of trumpets worshipfully announce the victory as the LORD brings down the walls. It was the presence of the LORD, symbolized by the focus of the Ark of the Covenant being deployed in the battle strategy: “So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.” (Joshua 6:6). On the final day of the military tactics, as the trumpets were blown, Joshua clarified who accomplished the victory: “And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city.” (Joshua 6:16).

Even the days in which the march around Jericho began and was completed, coincided with the Passover celebration and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Passover celebration occurred in connection with the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Israelites celebrated the Passover on the eve of the military campaign: “While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho.” (Joshua 5:10). The conquest of the Promised Land about to occur is reminiscent of the exodus—the conquest of the Land is like a new exodus. The seven days of worshipping around the city coincide with the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread: “You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.” (Joshua 6:3-4).

The seven days of marching around the city walls also reflected the patience of the LORD and perhaps even His pleading mercies. On the seventh day when the walls were brought down, time was up and the LORD ordered total destruction: “And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction.” (Joshua 6:17). This notion of total destruction may strike us as harsh, but the LORD orders it out of need to be just. Only Rahab and her family is spared: “But Rahab the prostitute and her father's household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive.” (Joshua 6:25). As noted in the previous day’s reading, Rahab, having heard of the LORD, turned to the LORD and trusted in Him: “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient” (Hebrews 11:31a). The whole town knew what Rahab knew about the LORD: “As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.” (Joshua 5:1). But whereas they knew what Rahab knew, they did not wish to turn to the LORD. They knew what the LORD was up to, but they dig in and resist and fight against the LORD rather than repent and cry out to the LORD for mercy. Remember, while the city was falling, the Israelites were celebrating the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. While those celebrations unfolded, Rahab’s faith as the means whereby the judgment of the LORD passed over her, while the LORD’s judgment was turned out on the rest of the inhabitants of Jericho, just as in the eve of the exodus, Pharaoh and the Egyptians were judged.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe