Thursday, January 08, 2004
Joshua 6 the conquest, part 2
the day of visitation
Jericho and Ai are strongholds -- walled cities -- within us that stand opposed to the will of God. Yet, there is within the possibility of the return to God. She is the prostitute Rahab. She received the spies who, in the night, visit. She makes welcome these intimations of the visitation of the Lord, and affirms that the Lord will triumph. Early Friends understood that the visitation of the Lord was a precious, but limited time, in which God approaches each soul, breaks through the hardness of the heart, and offers the possibility of salvation. Woe to the one who does not respond on the day of their visitation. Rahab represents that within us which is ready to respond on that day.
Nevertheless, there is much that is evil within us that is unwilling to answer God's call. Therefore, Joshua must attack the city. Following the commandments of God, he does not attack headlong. Instead, day after day, the army of God walks around the wall of our heart, in silence, awaiting the miraculous collapse of our defense:
Joshua 6:10 To the people Joshua gave this command: "You shall not shout or let your voice be heard, nor shall you utter a word, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout."
So after waiting and worship in silent preparation for God’s work, on the seventh day, (when the time is fulfilled) . . .
Joshua 6:16 And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city. 17 The city and all that is in it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live because she hid the messengers we sent.
Then everything that is contrary to God within us falls to the sword of the word of God. (You can read about that sword in Ephesians 6:7 and Hebrews 4:12, as well as the Book of Revelation.) And that which is willing to be redeemed "shall live" -- Rahab and all who are with her.
Nevertheless, there is much that is evil within us that is unwilling to answer God's call. Therefore, Joshua must attack the city. Following the commandments of God, he does not attack headlong. Instead, day after day, the army of God walks around the wall of our heart, in silence, awaiting the miraculous collapse of our defense:
Joshua 6:10 To the people Joshua gave this command: "You shall not shout or let your voice be heard, nor shall you utter a word, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout."
So after waiting and worship in silent preparation for God’s work, on the seventh day, (when the time is fulfilled) . . .
Joshua 6:16 And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city. 17 The city and all that is in it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live because she hid the messengers we sent.
Then everything that is contrary to God within us falls to the sword of the word of God. (You can read about that sword in Ephesians 6:7 and Hebrews 4:12, as well as the Book of Revelation.) And that which is willing to be redeemed "shall live" -- Rahab and all who are with her.
