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Jericho Conquest
Few weeks before that year, we waited as usual in the presence of God seeking for how we may be lead for the coming New Year. Actually, there were still works- unfulfilled task for that year. We had to focus on the immediate. In God’s mercies, Joshua chapter 6 was the major concentration for that New Year. We read and studied, trusting God to help our understanding about this passage. While we do this, some deep understanding begin to unfold.
The moment of breakthrough could be a challenging and busy moment that many of us may not expect. He promised to take over Jericho for us but we must understand the passage and it application in our situation. Indeed, it was interesting but tasking. The process began January and throughout that year, there were moment of breakthrough, suspense, waiting, working and walking. Diligence, patience, prudence and prayers were employed all according His instructions. We had to make several trips. Many projects must be handled simultaneously as we made those trips. Handling success may be tasking. The reality about success, victories and breakthrough is that it will not encourage laxity. Even though enjoyed peace over some issues, relax about some troubled possibilities yet, you can only consolidate success while you keep attending to matters properly and quickly .
A commander, General Moses just had his assignment ended and General Joshua was appointed to lead the anticipating solders, dreaming of victory. The whole documents were handed to him. Charges and counsels flooded the ceremony. The battles were going to be fierce and many lands, mountains and kingdom were to be overcome. Their strange warriors were not going to give a playful contest, they were set to end the vision and keep the anticipating pilgrims perpetually in the wilderness.
The Reubenites, the Gleadites and half tribe of Manasseh had gathered, they were ready for a battle in order to secure the lands as promised for possession of the pilgrims. General Joshua consulted his experience, he knew the kings of those nations were battle ready and he laced a formidable and reliable strategy for the breakthrough and conquest according to his experience and understanding. One of such strategy was the two wise spies that visited Jericho.
Jericho was the first battle tasking land, to conquer and victory was going to be a great opportunity. But the gate was sealed and the walls (fences) were thick and guided. The spies went and came back successfully. Their dread was Jericho citizens and leaders. “How?” to conquer was a big riddle, Joshua needed to solve. Between Jericho, the first land of this exploit was a scaring Jordan, which was at the peak season “However, the Lord gave the password to cross. But Jericho was secured and shut up by battle ready soldiers. Joshua must have racked his brain, pondered his thought and brought from the archive of his experience some strategies: Some were dusty, some cracking and some still new. He must have been weaving those various strategies to conform to his imagined means of conquering the Jericho.
Joshua had prepared the Israelite for taking over Promised Land in the best way he could. However, the Lord encouraged Joshua that he will have to take over the command. If we may be opportune to ask Joshua what his strategies were. We would have been very surprised and possibly impressed by those strategies. Unfortunately, this was not God’s plans and means.
Experience and guidance
Joshua had some certain level of battle’s experiences. The true assessment of the situation is that they are new enemies. Duplicating strategy once used before may be dangerous. Each time we approach a similar journey in life we must take caution of overconfidence privilege by our experience. Experience is the knowledge acquired from your and others’ past failure and success while God’s guidance may borrow from past, present and future as relevant to a particular situation is the set of instructions from the wisdom of God on how a matter should be treated. Where wealth of experience will fail, God’s guidance will not fail because He knows and sees things exactly the way they are. This makes His guidance accurate and faultless. You can imagine, Joshua was a warrior and captain under Moses. He had led battles and overcame. He was in the wilderness and saw God’s miracles through Moses. All he had seen, the miracles in the land of bondage, in the wilderness, in the battlefield and in the mounts all are accumulation of experiences. He might have chosen any one of them as the most suitable for Jericho conquest. If Joshua was permitted to outline his strategies, among these may be “I will send spies” which he did and “train up men that can specially climb tall and thick walls.” He may look for means of blowing off the Jericho fence and go in search of Moses rod and if he should remember conquest over amalekite. He may employ the priest to go to a nearby mountain and do it as Moses did it. God was not going to use any of the ideas that may look sensible and most appealing to Joshua’s consideration. The real captain of the host appeared, and told Joshua loose your shoe from off thy foot for the place where on thou stand is holy and Joshua did.
“ And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho that he lift his eyes and looked and behold a man stood opposite him with his sword drawn in His hand and Joshua went to Him and said to him “ are you for us or for our adversaries” So he said “ no, but as commander of the army of the Lord, I have now come and Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped and said to him what does my Lord say to his servant then, the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua “ take your sandal of your foot for the place where you stand is holy and Joshua did so“
On two occasions in the Bible was this type of instruction given and to two people Joshua predecessor and now to Joshua.
At the eve of breakthrough, God often visit. At that moment, He always comes to take charge.There are some battles in life which swiftness and smartness cannot win. There are sure lands, mountains and kingdom your common senses and schemed strategies will fail to conquer. This is because there are many hidden factors you may not see with your wisdom and wealth of experience. To Moses and Joshua, when they were both to confront pharaoh and Jericho they were instructed to loose off their shoes.
The power and the meaning of this instruction are hidden in the function of this part of our dressing, the shoe! But most importantly. By training, experience and exposure and background, there are types of shoes we are used to and they had turned to our admire code of dressing or had congealed into our principles and cultures. These must have formed the primary basis of sourcing, storing and processing information. I guess they are protective in nature as well as add to our mode of living, relating with other people and probably determine our choices and general and appealing outlook. These shoes, we desire to put on, when challenges, responsibilities and problems announce their arrival. Our shoes are protective principles learned, practiced or adopted. We quickly bring them out and pick which of them fit the situations most. I am very sure that Joshua had a battle shoes on. There are many shoes for many occasions. The engineers and factory workers put on their safety shoes. Likewise, the farmers, the geologist and archeologist may have their jungle shoes. There are shoes for beauty parade, ceremonies and sport and entertainment.
Joshua must have consulted methods and principles, but the commander of the host, told him “off your shoe.” General Joshua I’ll take the command henceforth!”
Ponder on these. If we’d had opportunity to ask Joshua what his strategies are, you would have seen great plans with which he was going to confront these strange warriors. And I’m very sure there was no way, the supposed foolish skirting of Jericho once every day for six days and on the seventh day, seven times would have been part of his plans or imagination .it really sounds foolish that is why Joshua must “off his shoes” Because it is only God that knows “How” to use the supposed foolishness to accomplish great things.
Friend, we have to drop some principles and practice at the border of breakthrough. I believe experience is important but it is limited and God’s guidance will not fail. The moment you are confronted with strange warriors, your shoes need no longer be on your foot, God better fights it. At such moment, you need not give God suggestions; just submit to His blessed will. Your sword must slay or cut at his command. You cannot be the commander when God come visiting. General Joshua did off his shoe and bowed thereafter, and heeded the leading that led to victory without questioning it. God knows “How” to get strange warriors confused and trapped; but you cannot stimulate those strategies, if you have not off your shoes and submit to his blessed will. After then, we are most sure to win the greatest of all battle.
The shepherd of life may come at the border of breakthrough and tell our pastors and church leaders to drop their staff and of their shoes, and just heed my instructions and tell your congregation to do likewise. All theological principles and ethics will have to be laid off, if such congregation must have the anticipated breakthrough and breaking forth. That’s if our common sense, experience and personal principles and church councils will not kick against this, and by such attitude the wonders of God had been banished in many gatherings.
Walls of Jericho- Total commitment of hindrance.
Now Jericho was strictly shut up because of the children of Israel, none went out and none came in “ total zeal of hindrance.
The change of position or state from a lower to higher is not usually welcome by those ungodly in such high places. Do not expect a warm reception if you must change state from poverty to prosperity, captivity to liberty, and sickness to health, devil will raise opposition. Someone may be threatened by your commitment to succeed. Your necessity for exploit will not be welcomed by everybody. How do you want the greedy one who enjoys your labour of affliction to react if you seek for freedom? How do you want a carnal leader who sees your gift as a possible threat to his to react? Tyrant cannot be happy with the development that his captive will want to have freedom.
To change state from negative to positive is not always easy. To break forth in your field of study is not easy. It is also possible among professional and citified accomplished personality in all fields. It is common for many in celebrated stratified and popular position to overshadow your effort and your unknown personality is not noticed, your best is threatened to be covered up.
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The first noticeable wall of Jericho is that you are doubted. Queen of Sheba in I king 10: 7 did not believe the news she heard about Solomon until she saw with her eye. Many people pass without noticing the greatness and unannounced may be expecting you to proof your worth. It may take time for people to believe and accept you, even in your house, until you prove your self-valiant. There is natural doubt in the heart of men. This may make the delight of your greatness pass unnoticed. Few people recommendation may count; your past work may be good specimen for proof. That is why you must be lover of quality. Be prepared for challenges. Excellence and uniqueness are the signature on your works.
Another wall of Jericho is lack of connection to your next promotion. If there are some platforms men thought are meant for specie of people and you need to get there. You might need recommendation like Joseph. Your ignorance are walls, past mistakes must be completely neutralizes; they may stand as walls, if you must be qualified for the possession of your promised land. You are not advancing because you lack information that may propel you into your promotion.
Your environment can be a wall of Jericho. The people around and prevalent practices and culture may be a great barrier to your advancement. The envious personality and some unwise personality may create hold up in your route. But God knows your walls and knows how to break them. However, you need to follow His guidance. The walls and gates that exclude you from the list of beneficiary of God’s promises despite your labour, promises and right is the wall of Jericho. The good news is that God knows how to get you there. Sometimes, this hindrances are deliberately schemed to prevent you to discover your route and advancement into a necessary level.
“Now Jericho was strictly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. And the Lord said unto Joshua see, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof and the mighty men of valour and ye shall compass the city all ye men of way and go round about the city once. Thus shallt thou do six days.
Jericho of our profession, career, and place of work and success victory are always sealed, most especially for those who are just coming into the scene of breakthrough. Jericho is always the beginning of beginnings of accomplishment in your chosen field. When these Jerichos are conquered they may usher you into Respect, Reputation, Recommendation and Resources.
You may not have the keys to open Jericho but you have to conquer the Jericho any way. How will you go about this! Jericho is straightly shut and you cannot get your exploit just easily, what do you do?
Compassing your Jericho
Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king
and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.
Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march
around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a
long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will
collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in ." Joshua 6:1-5.
Dealing and handling Jericho in our deliverance are key and the most tasking moment. Actually, at the hearing of the promise before this chapter and in verse two. The mind must have been highly lighted and quickly drive out the need for some responsibilities. However, there is the need to follow the instructions very closely if the Lord’s type of victory must be established and realised on Jericho.
The reality of Jericho was not denied. The true situation is that, they were not going to allow some specific set of people and are battle ready to enforce this stand. There was an austere restriction and curfew placed on everybody. The commerce and economic transaction was shut down just because of a particular group of people they cannot compromise their suspected infiltration by spies that came checking the city out. But the promise cannot be compromised either, it’s gone out of God’s mouth. But there are instructions well detailed to be carried out. How does this look like?
They must move around the city completely once in a day for six days with armed men. On the seventh day, the same city must be compassed seven times with priest with trumpet leading the ark of God. After the seventh day moving around, the priest gave a long blowing of trumpets and all the people must give a loud shout and the wall will crumble. What happen after this? Go on and prosecute the victory- this was really tasking.
This passage of the scripture came alive to me for the first time when I was about gaining admission into the higher institution. I was working in a drying cleaning and still needed to visit the institutions I sought admission into. It became very difficult. In one of the moment, the holy spirit highlighted my thought with Joshua 6 and I read over and over. This formed a message within my mind that I needed to persevere and travel frequently to this school. So I traveled from my station to the school which was about 80-100 km each day, this I started the Monday of that week. For those four days of the trip, there was no result. The process was somehow confused. Friday being the last working day of that week I had a thought to sleep over on Thursday. I told my friend and sought for a place to stay. We first attended a fellowship that night and pleaded with the brethren to put up with them. That night some of the fellowship leaders needed to see a member of staff. Some materials were to be kept with him since he was in the staff quarters. We decided to help them. This member of staff sought to know all those who came that night by name and departments. I had name, but no department but a challenging situation. Fortunately, he was a member of the department I sought admission into. There, he requested for my credentials, which I gave to him on Friday. He promised to present this to the right people since I had required qualification. That was how I know an insider to present my case. I was offered admission in one of the subsequent admission lists for that department.
Twenty years after, I had started a project more than six years earlier. But that year, Joshua 6 became stronger in our spirit. My family prayed about this. We specifically want to know how this fit into our situations. Could it be seven days like in that passage or seven weeks, month or what? This is important. Appropriate application of the passages of the scripture into our situations and circumstances are necessary if we must receive the God’s type of victories. There and then, He began to expose to us that the process will be very tasking that year in terms of responsibilities attached to breaking down the wall of Jericho before us. We needed to be armed- battle ready mentality. Carelessness and carefree life was not going to be encouraged. Laxity and levity were not needed. We must stay at alert. Also, the priest, the trumpet and the ark signified the need for seasoned worship life and the presence of God. We should not get too busy to ignore our devotion to Him. Even though armed to the teeth, committed devotion to God is highly necessary in the venue of victory. Armed men, priests and the ark must completely compass the city each day. It is necessary to understand their situation comprehensively. They cannot afford to build their plans on assumptions, yet they must still be patient and silent until seventh time on the seventh day. Each night of the six days of compassing city, they go back to their camp and relax and set off each morning. But on the seventh day, after the seventh time compassing, the long blowing of trumpets and loud shout, the wall collapsed. The armed men did not have to go to the camp and relax they proceeded into the exposed city and conquered it. Why is the last day this busy and tasking? Many people’s victory are either short lived and could not attain the full status of their victory because they could not give the time, patience and perseverance involved. This understanding helped and got us focused that blessed year, there was a great victory.
On the second month, I was called upon to come and present the project which I thought was done two years earlier but those in the authority felt contrary. I had to wait. We presented that and it was successful. I was cleared for the last presentation. We must keep preparing and making necessary trip to get ready for the last preparation which was not settled until later in the year. It was a great breakthrough in my life and my family because that situation got us stranded for some years.
Compassing your Jericho is strictly God’s guidance prescription. He would have prepared all but you set the miracle in motion by your right actions in the directions of His instructions.
There are some necessities in God’s guidance. If you want God to break your Jericho you have to compass your Jericho with your trust in God, Obedience to God’s instructions, regular communion with God , submission of your will to His will and lastly, patient, courage and perseverance.
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