Month 2:7, Week 1:6 (Sheshi/Kippur), Year 5935:037 AM
Jericho VII (Shibi'i/Sukkot)
Gregorian Calendar: Tuesday 10 May 2011
The Great Shout
The Overcoming of the Faithful Servant
Continued from Part 6
On the seventh day of the second month, the day before the first sabbath of that month, Yahweh gave the Nation of Israel is first great military triumph over an enemy fortress that was one of the mightiest in the Middle East. The assaulting army was completely inexperienced and knew nothing about siege warfare. It demolished every wall without firing a single missile or using a battering ram.
What were the weapons of this besieging army? First of all, emunah (faith, trusting) in Yahweh-Elohim. Second, a battle plan made in heaven the likes of which had never been seen or used before. This plan required all able-bodied men 20 years old and above to march silently once round the city preceeded by the Ark of the Covenant and six cohenim (priests) each with a ram's horn or shofar and the armed men (Josh.6:6-7). They were to do this for six consecutive days, beginning on the New Moon of the Second Month of the Creation Calendar, a week after the spring festivals had been correctly observed on the West Bank of the Jordan. No voices were to be heard, but the shofars were to be blown. Given the reputation the Israelites had acquired in defeating mighty Egypt, this must have been somewhat unnerving for the defenders of the city.
The seventh day of the month (and sixth day of the first week of that month) was 'action day', but Action Day also required special instructions that had to be observed to the letter - they were required to follow a special tavnith or pattern:
"But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day (sunrise), and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. And the seventh time it happened, when the cohenim (priests) blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: 'Shout, for Yahweh has given you the city! Now the city shall be doomed by Yahweh to destruction, it and all who are in it'" (Josh.6:15-17, NKJV).
The blowing of the seven shofars combined with a giant shout brought down the walls of the city (Rahab's house excepted) remind us of the Day of Shouting, Day of [Silver] Trumpets or Yom Teruah that takes place each autumn (fall) that in turn reminds us that such an event will occur at the Second Coming of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), an event that will bring down the satanic world system in a single day, or to be exact, a single hour!
"Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come" (Rev.18:10, NKJV).
Jericho was an ancient city but in an hour on the seventh day of the second month all those years ago, it was brought to a sudden and dramatic end. And the only persons in that city who were delivered were a family who decided to put their trust in the Elohim (God) of Israel.
"By emunah (faith, trusting) the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By emunah (faith, trusting) the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace" (Heb.11:30-31, NKJV).
We, like Rahab, who were in Jericho - in Babylon, in Egypt - by emunah (faith, trusting), though we were 'prostitutes', exchanging the emet (truth) for the lies of Satan, were delivered in Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ). But this was no passive faith of inactivity, but required footwork, just as the Israelites had to leg it out of Egypt or remain behind in slavery:
"You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by emunah (faith, trusting) only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:24-26, NKJV).
If we are serious about our salvation, we can in no way return to Jericho, or attempt to build it up, if we do not want to be cursed. Those who once knew Yah'shua (Jesus) and who abandoned Him, returning to the world system, are accursed, and their children become its foundations and gates!
"Then Joshua charged them at that time, saying, 'Cursed be the man before Yahweh who rises up and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn, and with his youngest he shall set up its gates'" (Josh.6:26, NKJV).
The lesson of Jericho is that you don't want to be a part of the world system. But the lesson also is that if you choose not to be a part of it, but a part of Yahweh's Kingdom, that unless you do things Yahweh's way and in divine tavnith (pattern), your attempts to stay out of the world system, let alone destroy it out of your life, will be futile. You can't be half Israel and half Jericho-Canaanite - you're either in that doomed fortress which seems to be so firm and strong, or you're in that fragile little army marching around it in tavnith (pattern) which has the backing of the Creator of this Universe.
Whatever your situation - personal, familial, national or global - you can be on the winning and safe side. That 'side' is Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), the malak (angel) of Yahweh's Presence who appeared before Joshua and accepted his worship and who told Joshua exactly what to do. Each and every one of you needs to get personal instructions from Yah'shua (Jesus) each and every day. With the first sabbath of the second month approaching, I urge you to get right with Him and get your marching orders for the coming week. Whatever obstacles may stand in your way, however seeminly great and immovable, remember Jericho, and remember to walk in obedience and emunah (faith, trusting) in true tavnith (pattern). Then watch those walls of opposition come tumbling down and give glory to the One who made it happen!
Continued in Part 8 (Jericho 2012)
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