Jericho.... (Sunday Series 4)
So after tromping around the desert for 40 years the Israelites are poised to enter the land of Israel. As they spy over the land scape the task of Moses is now finished and the Lord God took him home. The reigns of leadership were given to Joshua and with great trepidation they entered the land of milk & honey.
In 1400BC the Canaanite city of Jericho was a unique place. Set on a mound to the west of the Jordan River it lies 850 ft below sea level and was nicknamed the “City of Palms”. Jericho housed copious springs, fertile land and a lush pasture. In addition to its thick, mud brick walls it housed a 23 foot neolithian tower with an internal staircase. This people obviously enjoyed their culture & were well prepared to defend it.
Recent artifacts from the ongoing archeological dig have proven the ritual worship to the gods of defense.. As a deterrent they would march around the walls while blowing horns to emphasize their strength... but one day the Ark of the Covenant, Joshua & the Israelites arrived. They camped out side of the city for an undetermined period of time. Because of the covenant made by God with his people the land was now to be claimed & cleansed of all unholy and deceitful practice.
And so the true God mocked their gods.. Joshua was told to kill every man/woman/child/goat/dog/flea/palm/shrub/bacteria then burn the land completely and not plant for 7 years... Done. Then it was up to Ai', a city where folks worshiped the sun... It was there that Joshua prayed & the Lord God stopped the sun and insured victory. God again mocked their sun-god.. This same pattern repeated itself city after city until the conquest was complete.
1400 years later Jericho was the place that Jesus inspired Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector to change his dishonest practice. Ironic isn’t it that the road between Jerusalem and Jericho is the setting for the parable of the good Samaritan.
So Jericho is a great example for we here at the Den.. Those who live within a fortified city are not beyond the power of the Almighty. At any moment a group of people may show up & when guided by biblical principals can bring down the highest walls. True, we don’t have the Arc but we do have the spirit of truth. The question is will we allow it to penetrate our thinking & control our actions. There is no mystery to the equation I posed on Friday. Five million at bid represents the Canan(nite)’s unwillingness to venture beyond their walls to fight. The 50 million at HOY is our offer to engage the deceit on the open battlefield.. The 120 million at $100.45 is the price they must pay to worship their gods.. “and the walls came tumblin down” Blue
AI
