Joshua 6:1

New Living Translation

Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in.

For Meditation

Jericho stands fortified and shut against the rag-tag army of Israel. Joshua is anxious after checking his troops. Moses, his leader and mentor, has passed the baton to him and is no more. Before this moment, Moses directed Israel’s military encounters with the Amalekites and the Amorites, while Joshua led the field campaigns. But now, he doubles as the national leader and the army Commander. What is the plan and strategy for the offense against the first city in the Canaan Campaign?

As Joshua steps outside the camp, the weight of his mission against the formidable Jericho hangs heavy. But then, a moment of divine intervention unfolds. A figure, radiant and powerful, stands before him with a drawn sword. It is the Commander of the Lord’s Army, ready to take charge and lead His people in the Canaan Campaign (Joshua 5:13-15). The sheer wonder of this encounter is enough to inspire awe in us all, as it did Joshua, reminding us of the power and grace of our God.

The Almighty God, who promised Canaan as an inheritance to Abraham, makes it happen. The battle is His and the land as well. Therefore, He is ready to pass it on to His beloved people. Joshua need not worry. God has done it already. His part is to obey God and walk into Canaan and take over.

The Commander of the Lord’s army rolls out His battle formation. The Israelite army does not have to fight but to march around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they should go around it seven times. The priests blow their trumpets, the army shouts, and the massive Jericho wall falls flat. Israel takes the city, and fear grips Canaan (Joshua 6:2-5, 20). That is the power of Jehovah – our Savior and Lord.

Like the Jericho wall, the battles of our life stand before us, threatening to keep us from our God-ordained inheritance. They seem invincible, and we tremble with fear. What’s the plan, and will our strategy succeed? Is there any help? Sometimes, it gets so scary we look for an escape door.

These are the moments when God, in His infinite wisdom, shows up in unexpected ways to remind us that our life’s battles are His (1 Samuel 17:47; 2 Chronicles 20:15). Our task is not to cower in fear, but face them with unwavering faith, like David, believing and trusting the Lord to grant us victory over the fiercest giants. And when the burdens of life seem overwhelming, whether it’s a marital problem, financial struggle, illness, or daunting medical report, remember the example of King Jehoshaphat and confess it to Jesus. Is that not the reason for Calvary?

So, what is your Jericho Wall today? Who or what has become your Goliath? As you face the giants and obstacles of this world, remember that you do not go alone. You go in the name of the Almighty, under the umbrella of His Sovereign rule. Trust in His absolute care and gracious intervention, and you will find the strength and courage to overcome.