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JOSHUA: GOD IS SALVATION (PART EIGHT)

Jericho had now been conquered, utterly destroyed, and burnt to the ground.   The ascent up the pass to the central highlands of Canaan (which Jericho had protected) was now open to Joshua and the armies of Israel.   God had given Joshua a very unusual, but successful, strategy for taking the mighty fortress city of Jericho.   All that stood between Israel and the less fortified cities in the highlands was the smaller walled city of Ai.   Just as Jericho was meant to protect the lower approach to the pass, Ai was situated to protect the top of the pass.   Once Ai was conquered, an advancing army could invade to the north and to the south picking off the weaker Canaanite cities that were built along the Judean highlands.   After Jericho was overthrown, Joshua sent out spies to view Ai and gather intelligence that would help them in forming a battle plan.  When these men returned, they advised Joshua not to send his whole force against Ai because it ...
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JOSHUA: GOD IS SALVATION (PART SEVEN)

BUT WE SEE JESUS In the second chapter of Hebrews, Paul refers to the writer of Psalm 8 when he says, "One in a certain place testified, saying, 'What is man that You are mindful of him?'" (2:6 NKJV).  He then goes on to describe how God made man lower than the angels in might and strength, but then crowned him with glory and honor by setting him over all the works of His creation and becoming so involved in man's affairs (v. 7).  But then the psalmist writes, "You have put everything in subjection under his feet."  This is a powerful statement.  When God says everything, He excludes nothing.  God has said that everything is in subjection to you and me.  There is nothing that we do not have power over in Christ Jesus!  Verse eight continues, however, by saying, "But now we see not yet all things put under him [man] ."  These verses remind me of Joshua and the Israelites' plight.  God said Jericho was theirs, but they did not yet see the...
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JOSHUA: GOD IS SALVATION (PART SIX)

“Now Jericho was straitly 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." (Joshua 6:1, 2).   Jericho was Israel's first real test of faith after God delivered them across the swollen waters of the Jordan River.  Considered to be the oldest inhabited city in the world, Jericho sat just west of the Jordan River on an ancient trade route that led to Damascus.  It was strategically situated at the pass that led up to the central highlands that ran north and south along the heart of Canaan, and was well fortified against its enemies.  It had a double wall that was 30 feet tall.  The outer wall was 6 feet thick, and after a space of 15 feet, the inner wall was 12 feet thick.  These walls were massive and virtually impervious to frontal assault.  Once Jericho was conquered, Israel would be able t...
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