Chapter 6:1-7
We now come to the taking of Jericho. Now Jericho was closely shut up, and no one went in or out, for fear of the children of Israel. The men of Jericho might shut the gates to keep judgment out, but all was in vain. The proud city’s days were numbered. Jericho had been appointed for destruction long before, and all who took refuge within her walls would perish in her downfall.
Only Rahab and her father’s household were spared. Without doubt she waited for the return of the spies, for she had hung the scarlet line in her window, just as they had told her to do. Perhaps she could see the children of Israel in their camps outside, for her house was built on the wall of the city. In those days they used to put great walls around their cities and they built houses on the top of the walls.
What a wonderful thing is safety in the very place where judgment is to fall! When and how Jericho would be captured, Rahab did not know, but as to its capture she was clear, for she knew well that the Lord had given Israel the land. She had the token, and she would make use of it. So she bound the scarlet line in the window, confident that if the line were there, safety in the midst of judgment was assured to her.
Nothing else could be a substitute for the scarlet line. The men had told her to put it there; it was this they would look for when they came back to destroy the city and rescue her. And so it is that the blood of Christ is God’s own appointed place of safety for those who would heed His warning and flee from the wrath to come. “For God has appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.” Acts 17:3131Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31).
The Lord said to Joshua, See, I have given into your hand, Jericho, and the king, and the mighty men. The Lord then told him how he was to take Jericho. The priests were to take up the ark of the covenant, and seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns were to go before the ark. The armed men were to go on before the ark and the people followed after. The priests were to blow the trumpets, but the rest were to say nothing. They were to march around the walls of the city once a day for six days. Then on the seventh day they were to march around not once, but seven times, and then the Lord would give them the city.
They were not to fight at all. Obedience to God’s word was to give them victory. God was with them, He was Captain of His own host, His Spirit was not yet grieved by evil in their midst, and He used His great power for His people. They had to obey in patience.
For a whole week they were to go on doing what God told them to do. Perhaps they might have said, what a foolish thing to march around a city just blowing trumpets. But God had said it, and every time they marched around, it was like telling the people inside Jericho that judgment was surely coming.
“For My sake” press with steadfast patience onward,
Although the race be hard, the battle long;
Within thy Father’s house are many mansions,
There thou shalt rest and join the Victor’s song.
ML-06/12/1977