Symbolism of the Jericho conquest for Christian Experience
PHARAOH
The symbolism is clear. In the sixth chapter of Joshua, Israel had forsaken Egypt, traversed the Wilderness and was now entering the Promised Land. Here lies the believer’s three zip codes, Egypt, Wilderness and Canaan, the old life, the present battle and the final conquest. Pharaoh and his armies had drowned in the Red Sea. Pharaoh, the Satan-type, was vanquished in what represents the believer’s immersion in baptism, coming up on the other side, delivered from the slavery of Egypt. The Hebrews went through the Sea three days after Passover with its sprinkled blood, just as Jesus came forth from the grave on the third day. No picture could better reflect the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. We are buried with Him in baptism and raised again to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).
SIHON AND OG
Then comes the “wilderness of Sin” (Exodus 16:1, 17:1). The ancient word has nothing to do with our usage of the term “sin”, but the parallel is there. Being freed from sin we are thrown into the desert, a world of trials and temptations. God’s people had to learn to walk by faith. They ate the manna, Christ, the Bread of life, and drank from the Rock, the fountain of the Holy Spirit. And they fought dry spells, demon foes and serpent bites. The believer must learn to endure affliction.
Moses and his armies first conquered Amorite kings, Sihon, a strong, defiant type of the world system, then Og, the last of the Rephaim giants, vile, ruthless, a type of the flesh. Though Pharaoh has been defeated there are still battles for the earthly sojourner. We fight the world, the flesh and the devil. But these spiritual forces are no match for the marching armies of God. “Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon” (Numbers 21:14).
ADAM / Adamic Nature
Descending the heights of what is modern day Jordan, the Israelite throng filled the Jordan Valley. Their commander was not Moses (the Law), nor Aaron (the Levitical priesthood), nor Miriam (the Prophets) – heading the parade of valiant warriors and worshipers was a next generation anointed leader, Joshua, Yeshua, or the obvious parallel, Jesus the Christ. “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). What Law, Priesthood and Prophetess could not do, Joshua, “God of Salvation”, could do. Jesus is the way out of the Wilderness and into Canaan’s happy land.
You know John 3:16 – let’s learn Josh 3:16. As Joshua led the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant into the Jordan River’s flooded banks, the moment their feet touched the brink of the water, the river rolled backward, uphill, all the way back to a city named “Adam” (Joshua 3:16). In other words, when Jesus put His foot down on the cross, it rolled the flood of human sin and judgment all the way back to the first sinner, Adam.
They entered Canaan at Gilgal. Twelve stones were laid up on the western Jordan riverbank as a remembrance of their great deliverance, reflecting New Testament communion, “This do in remembrance of me”, while another twelve were laid in the dry riverbed where the waters were driven back. When the river water returned it covered the stones to where they were never seen again, just as the heavy burden of our Wilderness sins were covered and buried – “And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 10:17). Joshua 4:9 says of those stones, “…they are still there unto this day”. Thirty-five centuries have come and gone and those stones are still buried there.
Gilgal was where the new generation of Hebrew males were circumcised, symbolic of the cutting away of the flesh nature. “At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make for you sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time” (Joshua 5:2). Sharp knives. The very image is painful to the flesh. But Promised Land fullness not only requires justification, passing through the Red Sea, but also sanctification, passing through the Jordan River. Because Canaan symbolizes the third level of Christian experience, the baptism and fullness of the Holy Spirit. This is the land that flows with milk and honey. Canaan is the level of divine grace, where led by Joshua (Jesus Christ), giants are driven away and walled, impregnable cities are laid low.
THE KING OF JERICHO
The children of Israel had taken inventory, now it is time to take territory. Jesus commanded, “Occupy until I come”. Christians don’t stand cowered before the ominous walls of Jericho. We are on a mission of colonization for the Kingdom. Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. God had placed His fear in the hearts of the Canaanites. The city was “shut up”. The gates were barred because the city had gone into a defensive posture. The God of angel armies had them leaning back on their heels.
Joshua was on a mission. Isn’t it interesting that our call is also one of world missions? The priests marched with ram’s horns, shofar trumpets, and trailing them were the priests carrying the Ark. “Seven priests bore seven trumpets of ram’s horns before the ark of the Lord” (Joshua 6:6). They “passed on before the Lord” (vs 8). Now that Pharaoh is reckoned defeated, now that Jesus has cried, “It is finished”, we can lead the way with every step of faith. The Ark follows behind. In other words, God has our backs! These signs shall “follow” them that believe (Mark 16:17).
Seven is the number denoting divine control, timing, victory and more. Seven priests with seven shofars made seven trips taking seven days then took seven more trips on the seventh day. Amazing things happen through number seven.
Jericho means “fragrant place”. The devil built a stronghold in what should have been divine fragrance. So, God took them around the city one day, two, three, on to seven, until they became sick of the sight of Jericho, the eye sore, the impediment, the thing that stood in the way of their victory. And God will take you in circles around the thing in your life that is preventing your total victory, until you recognize it, get sick of it, and become willing to do something about it.
Then came the command – “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!” (Joshua 6:16) They took the keys of the kingdom. What was “loosed on earth” was “loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19). The “rua” shout loosed angelic hosts who leveled the city in one mighty blow. It may not be provable, but I would place that final trip at the time of day when Jesus died on the cross.
Verse 20 says “the walls fell down flat”. God can certainly flatten the enemy’s plans. Excavations have revealed Jericho was destroyed by a downward implosion. The Israelites went straight forward and raided the city. We talk today about taking our cities for Christ. Jericho is the grand example. Strongholds must be broken – “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (2 Corinthians 10:4). Take inventory. Take territory. March till you get sick of the impediment. Then shout with all the gusto you can muster. The Ark follows behind you. God will back up every word spoken in His name.
ANTICHRIST
One more parallel. Having addressed Pharaoh, Sihon, Og and the King of Jericho, it would be fitting to close with the notorious Man of Sin. Jesus, the New Testament Joshua, has one final battle remaining. That evil one is symbolized by Goliath, who young David would defeat a few centuries later. Goliath had a spear head weighing six-hundred shekels of iron. He stood six cubits and a span tall. He had six different armor pieces and weapons, so his identifying number was six hundred, six and six. Need I say more? You may ask, when will the walls of this world system finally crumble? When will what was won on Calvary be completely lived out in this evil world?
We know that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8, Psalm 90:4). The Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho for six days, or in prophetic language, six-thousand years. We are nearing the culmination of all ages. Yeshua has a people intent on driving out the last Canaanite. John declared, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). Yes, the Church may be gone via the Rapture by that day, but the Israelites, Joshua’s people, will live to see the day when the final earthly king is unseated and the walls of Jericho, the Antichrist’s kingdom and system will finally collapse and implode. Then the Church from heaven and Israel on earth will join for the conquest!
