"If Walls Could Talk"

If the walls of Jericho could be rebuilt and speak, they would tell us about the importance of obeying God’s commands.  Please read Joshua, chapter 6. 
The following are four lessons that we learn from the walls of Jericho.

Lesson #1:  God’s ways are NOT our ways.  “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.  For as the heavens are 
higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).  God’s instructions for the acquisition of the city of Jericho must have caused bewilderment for Joshua and the Israelite army.  I can imagine that the people of Jericho made themselves merry with the spectacle of the Israelites simply marching around the city and doing nothing.  All of this must have been very difficult for Israel, too.  Marching around the city day after day without any visible results must have been an extreme test of faith for them.  The battle plan was ALSO a test of obedience.  They would have to humble themselves and remain in complete submission to God’s instructions in order to be victorious.

You and I may not completely understand all of the intricacies of the commands of God for us today. However, the blessing comes through our trust AND obedience.

Lesson #2:  A gift from God must be accepted on His terms.  Before  God 
gave the instructions to Joshua, He said, “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, 
its king, and the mighty men of valor” (Joshua 6:2).  The city was a GIFT from God.  The expression ‘I have given’ is an exclamation of prophetic certainty.  It was by His grace that they were to possess it. Then  God told them HOW to take it, and His instructions required obedience.  However, Jericho was STILL a GIFT even though the Israelites had to meet certain conditions.

Salvation is ALSO a GIFT of God.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).  There are, however, conditions to be met.  Meeting those conditions of acceptance through our obedience to the command does not change
the fact that it is STILL a GIFT!

Lesson #3:  Faith includes obedience to the commands of God.  Recalling the crumbling walls of Jericho, the Hebrew writer states:  “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days” (11:30).  The faith by which the walls fell was a living, active, moving faith in God who made it happen. In the same way, faith does NOT save until it is made perfect by obedience (see James 2:22).

Lesson #4:  When man follows God’s ways, victory is assured!  God Himself brought about, by supernatural means, the collapse of the walls of Jericho.  God’s actions, however, were contingent upon the people’s obedience.  The success of Israel was due to their unconditional FAITH IN, and OBEDIENCE TO, the revealed will of God.  When God attaches a promise to a command, and we obey the command, He fulfills His promise.

God has promised that those who believe in Jesus (Acts 16:31), repent of their sins (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus (Romans 10:9-10), are baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), AND continue to walk obediently in the light of His revealed will (1 John 1:7) are saved from their sins.  

When we obey, God saves!

Walls CANNOT talk..... but God HAS spoken! We need to do more than just listen and agree -- we need to obey!

God bless you!

David A. Sargent, Minister 

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

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