Picture of Jericho on screen – Kathleen Kenyen – archeologist – 1952-1958 – died in 1978 – concluded destruction happened 150 years before Joshua – Bryant G. Wood – archeologist – studies in 1980s confirms Joshua conquest – also excavations in 1907-1909 found a place where the walls had not fallen and a house remained – also evidence of fire in the destruction – grain remained which had not been destroyed – evidence of possible earthquake
Who was the man who led this battle? What shaped him?
Numbers 27:15-19(NLT) 15 Then Moses said to the Lord, 16 “O Lord, you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Please appoint a new man as leader for the community. 17 Give them someone who will guide them wherever they go and will lead them into battle, so the community of the Lord will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” 18 The Lord replied, “Take Joshua son of Nun, who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. 19 Present him to Eleazar the priest before the whole community, and publicly commission him to lead the people.
1. A good report
Numbers 14:6-9(NLT) 6 Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. 7 They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! 8 And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. 9 Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”
Reality and greater reality – giants and God
Perception – grasshopper – conqueror
Negative report – faith report
2. Relentless commitment
Joshua 24:14-16(NLT) 14 “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. 15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” 16 The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods.
Your whole heart
Put away all idols
Determine to serve God
Take authority over your family
3. Staying the course
Joshua 6:1-5(NLT) 1 Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. 2 But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. 3 You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. 4 Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. 5 When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.”
The city(strongholds) – the king(powers) – the warriors(battlefield)
The march(faith) – the priests(intercession) – the Ark(promise) – the ram’s horn(triumph)
The precision of God’s timing
Abuna Chacour – permit for gym & classrooms – James and Susan Baker – dinner with Prime Minister