Jos 6:22-23 | KingComments | STEP | When they have marched around the city seven times on the last day, Joshua first gives a number of orders with a view to the taking of Jericho. He does so in all peace. Maybe the inhabitants of Jericho can hear what he says. He speaks the language of faith, of the certainty of the coming victory, of faith in the action of God. There are no negotiations with the city about surrender. The verdict is determined. The time to be saved is over. To be under the ban means for people death; for things it means separation to God. The metals silver, gold, bronze and iron are sanctified to the LORD. Thus we must learn that everything is for God, including everything we overcome in faith. If God separates the things of the world to Himself, He can, if He wants, use them for Himself. But if man, the Christian, connects himself to this, the Lord must judge him. God does not want there to be any fellowship with something that forms the power of God’s enemy: the world and its power. The silver and gold and the bronze and iron objects are not destroyed. Gold remains gold and silver remains silver although they were found in Jericho. It is wrongly used in Jericho but it is not wrong in itself. The tabernacle was built with the gold and silver from Egypt. So is all that is in Jericho holy to the LORD ( ). People can do a lot of good with electricity, but also a lot of what is evil. So it is with the thinking given to us by God. What do we think of? What does man devise? Is it with and for God or without Him? Our thinking must be subjected to God, and if the Spirit can use it, what results of it will be to God’s glory. The world always uses everything completely wrong, namely only for itself, without any thought of God. The walls fall down flat when to the sound of the shout is heard. The invisible power of God becomes visible in the collapse of the wall. A number of physical explanations have been put forward that could have caused the fall of the wall. A naturalistic cause does not have to undo the miracle, because it remains a miracle that the part on which the house of Rahab stands, is spared. But it may also be possible that the “captain of the LORD’s hosts” ( ) has sent out His invisible angelic hosts to demolish the city wall in an instant. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” ( ). These are all mere suggestions, for no explanation is given to us in Scripture. The part of the wall on which Rahab’s house stands is spared. Rahab does not perish with the unbelievers because she has believed ( ). All people in Jericho are killed because they did not in faith join Rahab. Rahab’s house is the only safe place to escape the city’s judgment (cf. ). Anyone who wanted to be saved had to believe the testimony of Rahab. There is no injustice with God. Each of the people of Jericho, just like Rahab, had the opportunity to believe. God has had patience for four hundred years ( ). So He is not merciless when He brings judgment. He gives plenty of time and many opportunities to seize the salvation He offers. After Rahab and her family are saved, they first come to a place outside the people. Cleansing must take place out first. Then they are accepted into the people. Rahab even gets a place of honor there because she is included in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus ( ). She is part of a people with whom she will now take the land. With joy she has taken her place among God’s people.

‏ Joshua 6:22-23

The Fall of Jericho

When they have marched around the city seven times on the last day, Joshua first gives a number of orders with a view to the taking of Jericho. He does so in all peace. Maybe the inhabitants of Jericho can hear what he says. He speaks the language of faith, of the certainty of the coming victory, of faith in the action of God.

There are no negotiations with the city about surrender. The verdict is determined. The time to be saved is over. To be under the ban means for people death; for things it means separation to God. The metals silver, gold, bronze and iron are sanctified to the LORD. Thus we must learn that everything is for God, including everything we overcome in faith.

If God separates the things of the world to Himself, He can, if He wants, use them for Himself. But if man, the Christian, connects himself to this, the Lord must judge him. God does not want there to be any fellowship with something that forms the power of God’s enemy: the world and its power.

The silver and gold and the bronze and iron objects are not destroyed. Gold remains gold and silver remains silver although they were found in Jericho. It is wrongly used in Jericho but it is not wrong in itself. The tabernacle was built with the gold and silver from Egypt. So is all that is in Jericho holy to the LORD (Jos 6:19).

People can do a lot of good with electricity, but also a lot of what is evil. So it is with the thinking given to us by God. What do we think of? What does man devise? Is it with and for God or without Him? Our thinking must be subjected to God, and if the Spirit can use it, what results of it will be to God’s glory. The world always uses everything completely wrong, namely only for itself, without any thought of God.

The walls fall down flat when to the sound of the shout is heard. The invisible power of God becomes visible in the collapse of the wall. A number of physical explanations have been put forward that could have caused the fall of the wall. A naturalistic cause does not have to undo the miracle, because it remains a miracle that the part on which the house of Rahab stands, is spared. But it may also be possible that the “captain of the LORD’s hosts” (Jos 5:14) has sent out His invisible angelic hosts to demolish the city wall in an instant. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” (Heb 1:14). These are all mere suggestions, for no explanation is given to us in Scripture.

The part of the wall on which Rahab’s house stands is spared. Rahab does not perish with the unbelievers because she has believed (Heb 11:31). All people in Jericho are killed because they did not in faith join Rahab. Rahab’s house is the only safe place to escape the city’s judgment (cf. Heb 11:7). Anyone who wanted to be saved had to believe the testimony of Rahab.

There is no injustice with God. Each of the people of Jericho, just like Rahab, had the opportunity to believe. God has had patience for four hundred years (Gen 15:13). So He is not merciless when He brings judgment. He gives plenty of time and many opportunities to seize the salvation He offers.

After Rahab and her family are saved, they first come to a place outside the people. Cleansing must take place out first. Then they are accepted into the people. Rahab even gets a place of honor there because she is included in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus (Mt 1:5). She is part of a people with whom she will now take the land. With joy she has taken her place among God’s people.