MAY 29, 2016
JERICHO, AN OFFERING OF FIRST FRUITS
INTRODUCTION:
1. The Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into thine hand.” That which God had ordained to happen, He could speak of in the past tense, as though it had already come to pass. Therefore, Joshua could by faith claim the victory solely based on God’s promise. (I John 5:4; Heb. 11:10
2. God’s foreordination, however, does not only concern the outcome but also the means by which that outcome shall be achieved. We need not look for the promised blessing if we ignore the prescribed means. This is certainly true when it comes to the salvation of God’s elect. (II Thess. 2:13; II Tim. 2:10)
3. Joshua and the people were faithful in carrying out their divine instruction in the matter of gaining the victory over Jericho. Though the divine method may have seemed foolish, it was that which God was pleased to use, therefore the people fully heeded the orders given by their leader right down to the final shout. (Isa. 55:8; I Cor. 1:21)
4. The walls of Jericho fell down flat, just as the Lord had said they would. (Verse 5, 20) When the people heard the long blast of the priests’ trumpets, Joshua said to them, “Shout, for the Lord hath given you the city.”
5. Yes, the Lord did give to them the city of Jericho, but of them He would require that it should be given back to Him as an offering of first fruits.
I. JERICHO WAS TO BE WHOLLY DEDICATED TO THE LORD. (VERSES 17-21)
A. JERICHO, BEING THE FIRST FRUITS OF ISRAEL’S CONQUEST IN CANAAN, WAS TO BE OFFERED AS A SACRIFICE OT THE LORD. “The city shall be accursed.” (Literally devoted, as the margin reads; see Lev. 27:21, 28, 29)
1. The city was devoted to utter destruction, along with all its inhabitants, save Rahab and her house. (Verse 17)
2. The city of Jericho, which was the Lord’s by right of creation, and now by right of conquest, He gave to the people that He might require it at their hand. As all sacrifices which He requires of his people, this was to be done in worship.
a) The tithe is the Lord’s, yet He gives it into our hands so that we may offer it unto Him.
b) As Christians, our lives belong to Him, not only by right of creation like all others, but by right of redemption, yet it is our duty to present them to Him as living sacrifices. (Rom. 12:1)
3. Hereafter, as they would gain victories over their various enemies, to the victors would be the spoil, but not so with respect to Jericho. All silver and gold, along with all other retrieved valuables, were consecrated to the Lord. (Verse 19)
4. Whatsoever was not devoted to the Lord’s treasury was devoted to utter destruction. The city and all things within it were to be burned with fire, and all living beings were to be sacrificed to the justice of God. (Verse 21)
5. The only exceptions were Rahab and her family, who were kept safe within the house with the scarlet cord in the window. (Verses 17b, 22, 23; Ch. 2:17-19)
a) Rahab and her family were excepted because they were trusting to the sacrifice of another. The scarlet cord in the window was put there as the sign of the covenant made between their household and the spies. That cord represented the blood of Christ, who is the surety of the everlasting covenant of grace.
b) In the great Day of Judgment divine justice will require the blood of all the guilty, excepting those who are trusting to the redeeming blood of Christ for their salvation. (I Pet. 1:18, 19)
c) It was by faith that Rahab was saved (Heb. 11:31), yet saving faith and the works which validate it are inseparable. (James 2:17, 18) Thus, the Holy Spirit attributes her salvation to her works. (Verse 17b; James 2:25, 26) Our Lord also spoke in like manner. (John 5:28, 29; Matt. 25:31-26, 41-43)
B. PARTICULAR WARNING WAS GIVEN REGARDING THE SPOIL OF JERICHO, LEST ANY BE TEMPTED TO TAKE FOR THEMSELVES THAT WHICH WAS DEDICATED TO THE LORD. (VS. 18)
1. This should have been a needless warning, but sadly, it was not. God’s people ought to reckon themselves enriched by that which is laid up in honor to God, yet such is not always the case. (Mal. 3:8, 9)
2. Failure to render to the Lord what is rightfully His makes that which is kept back an accursed thing. “Will a man rob God?” Sadly, the answer in too many cases is yes, but the question is to what advantage?
3. Regarding this matter the transgression of one, Joshua warned, would be troublesome to all. “Lest you make the camp of Israel a curse and trouble it.” It was as if Joshua could foresee the sin of Achan. As revealed in the next chapter, this is exactly what Achan did. God’s people are not islands to themselves. The indiscretions of one affect the whole church family. (I Cor. 5:1, 2, 6)
II. RAHAB AND HER HOUSE WERE SAVED ACCORDING TO THE SOLEMN OATH THAT WAS TAKEN. (VERSES 22-25; CH. 2:14, 17, 19, 21)
A. JOSHUA WAS FAITHFUL TO THE PROMISE THAT WAS MADE TO RAHAB. (VERSE 22)
1. Joshua’s faithfulness was for sake of God’s honor. The spies had not only given their word, which, since they were sent by Joshua, made it his word, but beyond that, they had sworn an oath. Failure to make good on the promise made to Rahab would therefore have brought reproach upon the name of Jehovah.
2. Rahab’s sure confidence was in the unfailing Word of God. She knew not Joshua and she had barely met the two spies who came to her house, but because of what she had heard about Israel’s God, and through the witness of the Spirit of the Lord, she knew His Word could be trusted.
3. Joshua’s faithfulness to the promise also had respect to her faithfulness. (Verse 25b) It is a shame and disgrace when we fail to remember the services and acts of kindness done on our behalf.
B. THE SPIES THEMSELVES WERE APPARENTLY EAGER TO MAKE GOOD ON THEIR AGREEMENT WITH RAHAB. (VERSE 23)
1. They hasted and went into the house in which the scarlet cord was displayed in the window, and brought out Rahab, and a host of others family member with her.
2. They must have been impressed to see how effective this woman had been in her efforts to secure the salvation of her family members. “And they brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren,…and all her kindred.”
3. We are not told the total number, but clearly Rahab had used what time she had after she sent the spies away to evangelize her extended family, bringing as many as she could reach into her own house, which was the house of the covenant – the designated house of safety.
4. Let us be so concerned for our family members that they might come into the household of faith, the only house that is made safe and secure by the blood of Christ.
C. GOD HIMSELF HONORED THE COVENANT THAT WAS SWORN IN HIS NAME.
1. Joshua’s faithfulness and the spies’ sincerity notwithstanding, had not God honored the covenant that was made in His name it would all have been to no avail.
a) Had not God’s judgment passed over the house where the scarlet token of the covenant was displayed, it would have become a heap of rubble like all the rest.
b) When the two men were sent to find the house and bring out the survivors, not only was it the only house with a scarlet cord in the window, it was apparently the only house left standing.
2. It was divine wisdom that prompted Rahab to demand that an oath be sworn, for it is covenant mercy that is sure mercy. It was also in keeping with covenant mercy that the spies required that she display the true token, for it is only when the blood is seen that divine judgment will pass over. (Ex. 12:12, 13)
D. RAHAB WAS, BY FAITH, SAVED FROM DESTRUCTION, AND ALSO RECEIVED INTO THE SOCIETY OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD. (VERSE 25)
1. This is the dual effect that true saving faith still has on believers.
a) It saves from the condemnation of the world, and it also separates from the society of the world.
b) Those who profess to believe but have no desire for the society of believers give reason to doubt the genuineness of their profession.
III. JERICHO WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AND CONDEMNED TO PERPETUAL DESOLATION. (VERSES 24, 26)
A. ONLY WHAT WAS DESIGNATED TO BE PRESERVED FOR THE LORD WAS SPARED THE CONSUMING FLAMES. (VERSE 24)
1. Of the inhabitants, only Rahab and her house were the Lord’s redeemed.
2. Of the material things, only the valuable vessels and precious metals were taken out to be kept for the Lord’s treasury.
B. JERICHO WAS NOT TO BE REBUILT, BUT TO REMAIN A SPOT DEVOTED TO GOD FOREVER. (VERSE 26)
1. Though it was in a fruitful plain, restoration was forbidden.
2. The ruins of Jericho would remain as a monument to God’s wrath against the Canaanites when the cup of their iniquity became full. (Deut. 13:16) It would bear witness to the weight of the divine curse, of which all who come under it face ruin without remedy.
3. A curse was pronounced upon any man that would attempt to rebuild Jericho.
a) In the days of the wicked King Ahab, almost four and a half centuries later, one Hiel the Bethelite dared to ignore the solemn warning. He found that the passing of time had not removed the curse that was pronounced. (See I Kings 16:34)
b) It is indeed wonderful that our blessed Lord, in the days of His ministry, as He was making His final journey to Jerusalem, directed His steps through the city of Jericho. Not only did He go there, but He displayed His great mercies, and wrought salvation, delivering even some of the worst among them from the awful curse of sin. (Luke 18:35-19:10)
c) Because of sin the whole world was brought under its awful curse, but thanks be to God Who sent His son into the world to bear that curse for His chosen ones, and to redeem their lives from destruction.
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