By faith for the glory of His name

Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. Our encouragement today comes from this very familiar story in Israel’s history. God told Joshua and the soldiers to walk around Jericho one time for six days and then seven times on the seventh day. Joshua 6:4-5. “On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead.” So Joshua and the people obeyed the Lord, and the walls of Jericho fell down just like God said they would.  Why did they do what God told them to do at Jericho? It’s because they believed God existed outside of creation, that He was the God of the universe and all creation. They didn’t believe that all creation was God or that God was in all created matter. They believed He existed outside of creation and therefore could do what He wished with it. They also believed that if they did what God said, He would reward them by destroying the wall surrounding Jericho. He had promised to give them the land of Promise, and the defeat of Jericho was God’s warning to the rest of the cities in the land. He was making a name for Himself by being with them to defeat their enemies.  Is it too great a leap for you to see the relevancy to us and to the original readers? This verse further establishes the author’s point made in 11:6. “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” This verse tells us that Joshua and the soldiers went to God in faith that they would receive what was promised, and they were not disappointed.  This encourages us to believe the same is true for us and for all who will draw near to God, believing He will give them mercy and grace to obey His word. Armed with this testimony, as well as all of these in chapter 11, we can obey the Lord’s commandment to believe in Him and love one another. 1 John 3:23-24 states the case for us. “This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” By faith, the walls of Jericho fell after they obeyed God. By faith, we draw near to the throne of grace as we live to love with Jesus, believing He will do for us what He promised. He will magnify His name, both by giving us faith and producing fruit through Jesus Christ, who lives in us. So may we walk with purpose and confidence just like Joshua and the Israelite soldiers. We aren’t living to love with Jesus for an earthly conquest, but for the glory of His name and a heavenly reward.