Bible Study March 19, 2024
Joshua 6:1 – 3 (NLT)
“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. 2 But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. 3 You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days.”
We are a God fearing people out of respect for God. He does not want us to fear Him (be afraid of Him) but we “fear” Him out of reverence.
The people of Jericho feared the Israelites because of their God who had led them along the journey all their days. They were at times disobedient but He was faithful to His word for His people. The inhabitants of Jericho feared God for other reasons.
Fear is an interesting emotion in our lives. Did the Israelites fear God when the approached the Red Sea or did they just fear for their lives? Moses may have had a different perspective than the Israelites did. Gideon took three hundred soldiers to defeat a much larger army. Gideon was fearful and put out a fleece to test God, he finally had the right “fear” perspective.
God gives us what might seem impossible tasks to us to accomplish on our own but then He never expected us to do it alone, that idea is in our minds. Joshua was a man of faith and trust in God. When God told him to march around the city for six days he did without seeing anything happen. A lot of people would give up after one or two days but not Joshua.
Then something strange happens. He is told on the seventh day to march around the city seven times. Seven is the number of perfection in the scriptures. Why seven, not six only God knows. But on that fateful seventh day we know what happened the trumpets blew, the people shouted and the walls came down. Without hesitation Joshua followed the commands of the Lord.
God may ask us to do something miraculous, spectacular beyond our capabilities, or maybe serve where do not believe we are capable. Calling Him “Lord” carries the expectation of obedience.
God Bless.
Asbury Chapel 