Joshua 6:6-21 – Four needful elements to victory

Joshua deeply absorbed the instruction of the Lord. He knew with deep conviction that only in total surrender would victory be experienced. As a godly and responsible leader, he was determined to go through with God’s plan. He did not try to take matters into his own hand and attempt to fight his way through. Instead, he carried out God’s instructions to the very letter. From how he executed the unusual plan that God had given him, we glean some elements for ourselves if we are to experience personal success in our own godly endeavors.    

Firstly, Joshua showed determination and tenacity to follow God to every detail of His word. In other words, he simply obeyed everything expected of him. God instructed them to go around the city once a day for six days. Seven priests were assigned to lead the entourage, bearing and blowing ram horns. These were followed by armed men in front of the Ark, and rear guards following after it. The rest of the people were told to follow after quietly. They were told not to say a word till the seventh round on the seventh day. It was then that they would be commanded to shout.  Doing things God’s way, no matter how illogical it may seem, always brings victory. People would often run everywhere seeking all kinds of new programs hoping to achieve success. Yet what is required of us is simply to walk obediently, patiently, consistently, humbly and determinedly with God in the things He had revealed to us. We recall the instruction given in Colossians 2:6-7. It is to “…walk in Him (the Lord)…being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you (we) were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” The word “walk” is a very consistent activity. Many of us may not be able to cover much ground running, but we can cover a great distance when we maintain a consistent and determined walk.

Secondly, we must maintain a dedicated walk. Bear in mind that they had to walk around the city once daily. Nothing happened for six days. Even when they walked for six rounds on the seventh day, still nothing happened. When nothing seems to happen in our life, we all do have the tendency to try and seek new methods and try new ways. Imagine if they had given up the third or fourth or fifth day when nothing happened, they would not have experienced the victory they had. They could have given up on the sixth round of the seventh day, they would still experience nothing. It was not until they dedicated themselves to complete all that they were instructed to do, then did the wall come crumbling down. Like them, if we are to experience success in our walk, we need to be dedicated and persistent, and consistent to what we were told to the very end. To do so requires dedication. So we need not only determination but also dedication.

Thirdly, to experience success, we need to destroy especially those things that will be a hindrance to our victory. The instruction of Joshua was to destroy everything and everyone, except for Rahab and her family members. They must utterly destroy everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword. The point is this, if they didn’t, those people would be a negative influence to their life. When we have established the strongholds in our lives, we must eradicate them leaving no trace for our past to be resurrected. When we leave some of our past that need to be eradicated into our life, we have brought needless excess baggage into our spiritual journey that could hinder our walk.

Fourthly, we need to deal with our desires. God knew the tendency the people had. He knew they could be enticed by the gold, silver and precious things of that cursed city. They might be tempted to become covetous and keep a portion of it for themselves. Everything was placed under a ban. It was to be wholly dedicated to the Lord. No one was to keep a part of it or they would be under a curse. God wants us to deal with our greed and desires in life. No matter how attractive the material things of the world may seem, we must not be enticed by them. First John 2:15-16, instruct us not to “…love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life is not from the Father, but is from the world.”

From the account given in these verses, we learn how to journey successfully with God. We need to do so with determination and dedication. We also need to destroy anything that stands in our way that can hinder our progress with God. And finally, we must also deal with our earthly desires that can entice us and deviate our attention from God. Remember the things that we love and hold dear to our hearts are just borrowed. They are not ours at all. Jesus grants them to us to brighten our life. We must roll back the curtains of our memory every now and then, and consider where God has brought us from and where we could have been. And be reminded that it’s only in Christ alone that victory is truly secured. Thanks be to God!