The credit for the victory over the city of Jericho goes back to the man named Joshua.
Joshua, a man born during the weary years of bondage, knew the value of liberty. He became the servant of Moses.
His victory over the Amalekites opened the door to further usefulness and responsibility. That he was prepared for the responsibilities of leadership is evidenced by his being called ‘the servant of Moses’ because of his unwavering loyalty and devotion.
Before the fall of Jericho, described in chapter six, we read in chapter five, verse thirteen, “Now when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him. In his hands was his drawn sword. Joshua went to him and said, ‘Are you for us or for our enemies…”
This incident helped Joshua a lot in defeating his enemies. This encounter with the angel strengthened him greatly, and he obeyed the instructions given to him. What is remarkable here is that Joshua, the leader, obeyed God, and the people obeyed their leader. Leaders must have the ability to look up and around to see things others can’t see. Our Lord Jesus Christ advised his disciples to look up and see that the fields are white for harvest. It is a responsibility given to all of us.
I have read that an English publisher and editor, Lord Northcliffe of the London Times, was threatened with complete blindness. Specialists who examined him could not find anything essentially wrong with his eyes and they came to the conclusion that what he needed was the “far look”. The constant reading of fine print and the need for close observation had imposed too great a strain on his eyesight. He was told to take days in the country, away from the print page, and to look at big things, far things.
So many people allow their vision to become dim, their courage to wither away, their faith to fail, because they lack the far look. Good and godly people may become so absorbed with the near, so influenced by the immediate problem, so weakened by the disadvantage that they surrender before the fight has really begun.
There may be closed walls ahead and hard spiritual warfare. Don’t worry. Look up and heed the word of God and obey it fully.
No wall is too high. There is no undefeatable enemy. Be still and know the power of our God.
