Before the Battle of Jericho

I just returned from a wonderful conference where we celebrated the faith and courage the prostitute Rahab demonstrated during the battle of Jericho. The Israelites themselves needed similar faith and courage to follow God’s unconventional instructions for taking the city.

In reality, God had been preparing the walls of Jericho to fall long before Israel ever crossed the Jordan. Long before they stepped up to the battle line.

In Joshua 2:1, two men are sent to scout the city of Jericho. Rahab hid them from the king’s men, sending the soldiers to the surrounding hillside for their search. Once it was safe to bring the two spies out of hiding, Rahab addressed them with these words:

“I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath” (Joshua 2:8–11, NKJV).

But when and where did God actually perform the mighty deeds striking terror in the hearts of the people of Jericho? Forty years previously and miles away in Egypt! In spite of time and distance, the story still made them tremble.

While news of God’s power was traveling to Jericho, the Israelites were spending the same forty years struggling in the wilderness. For them, the season could hardly be described as victorious or even encouraging. They’d missed their first opportunity to take the land, they’d worshipped a false god, they’d followed a treasonous plot from some of their leaders, they’d been cursed with disease and destruction causing thousands to die . . . and these were only some of their fun adventures.

But while Israel was languishing in the midst of disappointment, delay, and trial, God was busy sending fear into the enemies they were about to encounter.

This was no Biblical anomaly. In Judges 7:9-14 Gideon had a similar experience in the pending battle with the Midianites and Amelekites. As he was getting up his courage to follow another set of curious instructions from God, he was told to sneak into the enemy’s camp. There, Gideon found the troops abuzz with news of a scary dream someone had had about a loaf of barley bread (a symbol of the Israelites) rolling down the hill to destroy them. Fear was already in the camp before Gideon launched the attack.

So, when we hear or sense the Lord sending us into battle, we can be assured He’s gone before us to intimidate the enemy He’s sending us to confront.

What battle has God set before you? Be assured He has sent word of His mighty power ahead of you. People may or may not be aware of the news on the wind, but the spiritual forces walled around the land God has appointed for us to take will have surely heard. Before we take up our sword and run to the battle, God already has them shaking in their boots.