God kept His Word, His Promise!

The wall of Jericho had fallen “flat!”

The city had essentially been destroyed.

Then … “Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.” Joshua 6:26

What a warning!

The verb “adjured” translates the Hebrew word “shaba,” meaning ” to swear.” (Literally it means “to say something seven times!” To mean it that deeply!)

And the verb “cursed” is “arar” in Hebrew, meaning “to bitterly denounce.”

God clearly DOES NOT want Jericho rebuilt! “Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho.” Doomed of God!

Scripture even lists the consequences for disobeying this injunction. The deaths of two of the foolish builder’s sons, the elder and the younger! If anyone blatantly disobeys God on this matter … “He shall lay the foundation (of the city) thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.”

His oldest boy, due to some unexpected and tragic death … his body shall be buried in the city’s foundation! The same with his youngest, except his death will somehow involve the city’s gates!

Warning clearly given!

Now … turn with me to 1 Kings 16:33-34. “And (wicked King) Ahab (of Israel) made a grove (in which to worship false idols); and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. In his days did HIEL THE BETHELITE BUILD (REBUILD) JERICHO: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.”

A disobedient father!

And “Hiel’s” Hebrew name means, grammatically, “God lives!”

Wow!

Disobedience, rebellion … DEATH!

Just like God said!

Folks … God always keeps his Promises!

This was one costly construction project … if Hiel loved his boys, anyway!

I’ve written enough today.

Is anyone reading here this morning (knowingly) violating some principle of God’s Word?

If so, I beg you, sober up!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Sin has consequences!

 

All of Israel was to march around Jericho, six days in a row! Then on the seventh day … God would cause the City’s wall to fall down “flat!” Well, 99% of it anyway, think of Rahab!

But, there were stipulations!

In all their circumnavigations … “And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, YE SHALL NOT SHOUT, NOR MAKE ANY NOISE WITH  YOUR VOICE, NEITHER SHALL ANY WORD PROCEED OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.” Joshua 6:10

I have always heard that there is … a time to talk and a time to “hush.” But Joshua 6:10 actually raises that adage to a command!

DO NOT MAKE ANY NOISE WITH YOUR MOUTH!

Why?

Due to reverence for God? As in… “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

Due to the sheer fear of the Lord?

Because of some military strategy?

They will be commanded to loudly SHOUT (the very opposite of the “no words” command) on the seventh day of the siege, on the seventh trip around the city that day. But not until then!

God is aware of our words!

Of the “noise” we make in chatter!

So here’s a lesson on “being quiet,” at least doing so at the right times.

Proverbs 10:19 might help here. “In the multitude of words there wanteth (lacketh) not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” (In other words, the MORE we talk, the MORE we sin!)

And when going to Church? “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and BE MORE READY TO HEAR. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: THEREFORE LET THY WORDS BE FEW.” Wow, listen more than speak!

There were times when even Jesus was deliberately quiet! Here’s an example: “And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? Behold how many things they witness against thee. BUT JESUS YET ANSWERED NOTHING; so that Pilate marvelled.” Mark 15:4-5

Back to Proverbs … 17:28 this time … “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace (keeps quiet), is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips (shuts up) is esteemed a man of understanding.” Pretty clear, isn’t it?

I do not know exactly why God would not let the Jews make any noise (verbally) as they marched those days, not for sure.

But I (now) do know that there are times when I … might should refrain from speech!

Thank you, Lord … for Scripture!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Oh, do add Proverbs 29:20 to your “tongue tamer” list! “Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.” Too quick to speak!

And what about Proverbs 21:23?  “Whoso keepeth (guards, watches closely) his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”

One of my favorites, Psalm 41:3. “Set a watch (an observer), O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” Hear every word I speak, and grant me wisdom to know Thou art hearing me!

And I close (again) with Matthew 12:36. “But I (Jesus) say unto you, That every idle (useless) word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

 

Israel, now having obeying God in circumcising all the men and boys, and having properly observed the Passover … is ready to march! And the nearest city to be conquered is Jericho, where the two spies of Joshua chapter 2 had been sent. Also where Rahab the harlot lived!

God gave Joshua specific marching orders, too.

Here they are: “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 war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.” Joshua 6:1-5

March around the city one time, both today and again tomorrow … then for four more days, a total of six. Then on the seventh day march once more, around the city. At which time the priests blast their trumpets … and the people all shout loudly with their voices … the wall of that significant city will “fall down!” (God is really “giving” Jericho to Israel!) Plus, the natives of Jericho are already inside, quaking in fear! “Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.” Joshua 6:1

But verse 9 caught my attention earlier this morning. As the Jews marched each day, obeying the Lord … “The armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the REREWARD came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.” Joshua 6:9

The soldiers (army) led the way. Then the (seven) priests with their trumpets. Next came the Ark (of the Covenant), properly carried by the Levites. THEN, THE “REWARD” FOLLOWED!

That’s what interested me!

The “rereward,” in Hebrew “asaph,” means in our context here “the rest” of the people. Those who came behind! The “assembled” congregation!

Literally, those in the “rear,” but spelled “rere.”

Many commentaries will tell you this “rereward” is simply the rest of the soldiers. But if that’s so … where are the people? The bulk of Israel’s citizenry?

No, the “rereward” are the common folks, following their leaders. Keeping pace with their God, too. Represented by the Ark, of course.

That’s my thought today!

In the Lord’s work, in His great Cause … I am simply a member of the “rereward.”

Not a shining leader.

Not a notable individual at all.

Just part of the “rereward.”

The back of the pack.

But, guess what?

They were blessed with victory as well as the majors and generals out front!

They were headed to the Promised Land as well!

God is no Respecter of persons!

I am a nobody in many ways … but a member of God’s family at the same time!

I may be in the “rear” (“rere”) … but I know the HEAD!

Hallelujah!

Some other “nobody” (fellow “rereward” member) rejoice with me today!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.” Joshua 5:13-15, what’s called a “theophany.”

Or a “Christophany,” being an Old Testament Appearance of Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

Joshua “encounters” a “man!”

This Happening transpires just prior to the attack on Jericho. Or should I just say “march” around Jericho? God did the fighting!

As if to further encourage Joshua, this One appears!

The first line, “Joshua (both) LIFTED UP his eyes and (also) LOOKED” … suggests some sore of double vision, I mean double apprehension, double realization! One being physical … here’s a man. The other being spiritual, a (the) Man! (Note the capital “M” on Man!)

The Man, apparently dressed as a Soldier, has a Sword in His Hand! This is God the Warrior! Who’s come to help Joshua and the Jews in tomorrow’s encounter! (Exodus 15:3 … “The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.” Words of the song chanted by Moses, Miriam and Israel as they exited the dry Red Sea basin!)

Next. Joshua asks for some identification … “Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?”

He then gets a clear answer … “As CAPTAIN OF THE HOST OF THE LORD am I now come.” Wow, as Captain!

Then, Joshua bows to worship this “Man” … and He does not restrain Joshua at all, not in the least! Had this been merely an angel, such worship would have been forbidden, denied! (As occurred to John in Revelation 22:8-9. “And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the ANGEL which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou DO IT NOT: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: WORSHIP GOD.” Amen!)

But Jesus does not restrain Joshua one whit! “Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?” (This sounds a lot like Paul’s “What would Thou have me ot do?” Acts 9:6)

Then, the final proof this is Jesus … in a Pre-Incarnate Form … meaning prior to the Virgin Birth … “And the captain of the LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy.” The very same words God said to Moses, back at the burning bush!

Holy Ground!

Take off thy shoes!

Amazing!

Think of it … Jesus came and encouraged Joshua on the eve of Israel’s first battle … her first volley claiming the Promised Land!

Oh, dear readers …

I find Him (via the Holy Spirit) doing the same for me … time and time again, as encouragement is needed!

How about you?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Ever heard His “still small voice?”

 

SOME MAJOR CHANGES …

“And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and KEPT THE PASSOVER on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. And they DID EAT OF THE OLD CORN OF THE LAND on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. And THE MANNA CEASED on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.” Joshua 5:10-12

Barely in the land, the Jewish people are observing the Passover! Which had not been commemorated in decades. And they did so on the right day, too.

Passover, which is a picture of Christ Jesus our Lord (the Real Lamb of God) dying to provide our salvation, safety, redemption! “When I see the BLOOD,” you remember don’t you?

And the next day after the Passover … “They did eat of the old corn of the land.”

The Lord provided them grain to eat, likely grown by the heathen who inhabited the surrounding acreage, but who had fled from the approaching army! (As promised in Deuteronomy 6:10-11 … “And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, and houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full …” A promise kept to the fullest.)

But note this too. “And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.” No more manna! Which also had lasted for decades, “forty years” in round numbers.

Note: God fed His people miraculously … until they reached their land where they could farm naturally!

Point being … what we can’t do … GOD CAN. But what we can do, GOD WON’T!

Wow!

By the way, the “manna” is a picture of Jesus in His Humility. (Quietly coming from heaven to earth, being quite small, yet white and sweet, certainly available to all!)

The corn of the land is a picture of Jesus in His Glory! (The grain having been planted, having died, and having come back up out of the ground, and having born fruit as well! Death, Burial and Resurrection!!!

Amazing!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell