The Jordan River Rules: Week 9

We are thrilled to have you join us! Every Tuesday morning at 9:00, now until August 6, we'll gather for a Summer Book Club-Style Bible Study. As a community of like-minded followers of Jesus Christ, we'll share our journeys, support each other, and find encouragement together.

Our focus will be on studying 10 God-given strategies for moving forward, as outlined in "The Jordan River Rules." Each week, we’ll explore one rule and discuss it in the comment section. If you haven't yet grabbed the book, you can get your copy here.

Can't make it on Tuesday mornings at 9:00? No problem! You can participate anytime during the week at your convenience. Simply read the week’s chapter and the corresponding blog post, then join the discussion in the comments. Don’t forget to invite a friend to join us! We look forward to growing together in faith!

​WEEK 9: You’re Not in Charge, but Remember Who Is

“When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man was standing before him with His drawn sword in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, 'Are You for us, or for our adversaries?'” Joshua 5:13

Do you ever feel like you are marching in circles when you'd rather be conquering your "Jericho" with divine strategy? Leaving the Jordan River behind, the Israelites faced their first major roadblock—the formidable city of Jericho. As the news of their arrival spread through the Canaanite territories, dread filled every town and village. The Amorite and Canaanite kings, upon hearing how the Lord had miraculously dried the Jordan for the Israelites, lost heart, and courage abandoned them (Joshua 5:1). The stage was set for a monumental confrontation.

Camped at Gilgal—Preparing for the Battle: In Joshua 5, the Israelites set up camp at Gilgal. Significantly, they reestablished the Jewish rite of circumcision, symbolizing a renewed commitment to their covenant with God. Then, they observed the Passover, reenacting the pivotal moment when their ancestors prepared to leave Egypt. With these rituals, the Israelites readied themselves for the impending challenge—Jericho.
 
Facing the Unknown—Confronting Jericho's Impenetrable Walls: Joshua turned his attention to Jericho, a city "strongly fortified because of the Israelites—no one leaving or entering" (Joshua 6:1). Confronted with an obstacle seemingly insurmountable, Joshua had no strategy for overcoming the city's walls. The situation mirrored our own encounters with life's roadblocks—limitations, hindrances, and obstacles that leave us clueless about the way forward.
 
A Divine Encounter—Meeting the Commander of the Lord's Army: As Joshua pondered the dilemma, a mysterious soldier with a drawn sword appeared. Their exchange was not with an ordinary angel but with the Lord Sabaoth—the Lord of Hosts, identified as the preincarnate Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The Commander's presence signified impending judgment on the Canaanite tribes.
 
The Commander's command to Joshua was clear: "Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy" (Joshua 5:15). This act of reverence acknowledged the sacredness of the ground in the presence of the Almighty. The holy encounter prepared Joshua for the divine strategy that would unfold to conquer Jericho.

Standing on Holy Ground—A Lesson for Overcoming Obstacles: Why the command to remove sandals? It was an invitation to experience the holiness of the ground directly, with nothing hindering the connection. In moments of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Joshua's encounter teaches us a profound lesson: when facing Jericho, you're standing on holy ground. The Lord is unusually near, ready to deliver and provide a unique solution.
 
Divine Strategy—Marching in Circles: The divine strategy for Jericho was peculiar. The Commander instructed Joshua to march around the city once for six days, with priests carrying ram's-horn trumpets. On the seventh day, they were to march around seven times, accompanied by trumpet blasts. At the signal, the troops would shout, and the walls would collapse (Joshua 6:2-5). This unconventional approach challenges our understanding of warfare. God's ways often defy human logic, yet history attests to the effectiveness of such strategies. Gideon's torches, David's slingshot, and Jehoshaphat's temple choir all point to God's extraordinary power displayed through seemingly ordinary means.
 
Embracing Divine Encounters in Obstacles: The Bible assures us that we are "cracked pots" but vessels of God's extraordinary power (2 Corinthians 4:7). In moments of overwhelming obstacles, remember you're not in charge; God is the Commander of the Lord's hosts. Your perplexity is His opportunity to show up, and you are standing on holy ground.
 
Running Circles Around the Enemy—Lessons from Jericho: As the Israelites prepared to conquer Jericho, they were about to run—or rather, walk—circles around their foes. The walls fell not through conventional warfare but through the impact of celestial hosts. The peculiar strategy highlighted that our achievements are results of what God does through cracked pots—individuals yielded to His divine plans.

In your journey, when faced with the Jerichos of life, acknowledge the holiness of the ground you stand on. Worship the Commander of the Lord's hosts, bask in His encircling holiness, and embrace divine encounters in your obstacles. Like the Israelites, you might find yourself running circles around the very challenges that once seemed insurmountable.

“Do you have any obstacles blocking your path, with no clue how to conquer them? To the Israelites, Jericho was a literal roadblock. We have lots of those as we move through life, one stage at a time. Limitations. Hindrances. Hurdles. Obstacles. Or you might have another word for it—handicap, impoverishment, disease, depression, foreclosure, unfaithfulness, unemployment, loneliness, grief, addiction. Joshua simply called it Jericho, and he had no idea what to do next.... Whenever you have an obstacle you cannot overcome, you’re standing on holy ground. The Lord is unusually near. He descends to deliver. He arrives with a plan, which will be unlike anything you imagined, and it’s a special opportunity to experience His holy and blessed presence. Stop obsessing over your Jericho and look to your Iesous, your Jesus. He knows exactly what to do next.... If you’re bearing the strain of a load too heavy, a pain too hurtful, a project too big, or an obstacle too rigid, remember you’re not in charge. Your moments of greatest perplexity are His moments to show up as the Commander of the Lord’s hosts.” —Robert Morgan

I love this quote: "Gideon's torches, David's slingshot, and Jehoshaphat's temple choir all point to God's extraordinary power displayed through seemingly ordinary means." How can we apply the lesson of "You’re Not in Charge, but Remember Who Is" to overcome our own life's obstacles?

Read The Jordan River Rules: Week 10 here.

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