When Joshua sent the two spies out from Shittim it wasn't just to Jericho but to "the land" but with the emphasis on Jericho:

"'Go, look over the land,' he said, 'especially Jericho'" (Josh.2:1, NIV).

Sometimes we can get so focused on the obstacle in our path we we forget the bigger picture - "the whole land". I can easily list the major obstacles in my life to you - my 'current Jericho's' - but what is my bigger goal? What's yours? What do you want to remove your obstacles for? To do what? Israel didn't want to capture Jericho to just live in it and become yet another mini-kingdom in the Canaanite arena. The objective was much, much larger. Their goal was the eastern Mediterranean coastline, the northern mountain called Herman, and the southern River of Egypt. They weren't even going to keep Jericho intact as an impressive fortress in the defence of their emerging nation to ward off future enemies, though they likely didn't fully understand that. Indeed, Yahweh would insist that they rely on Him for the defence of the realm. "Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me," David prayed (Ps.. 31:3, NIV).

This idea or device of a contrast between "the whole" or "all" and "especially" is found in several places in the Scriptures. For instance Paul writes to the Philippians from Rome:

"All the qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) [in Rome] greet you [in Philippi], but especially those who are of Caesar's household" (Phil.4:22, NKJV).

Again Paul says, writing to the Galatians:

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all [mankind], especially to those who are of the household of emunah (faith)" (Gal.6:10, NKJV).

Yet again, Paul, writing to Timothy:

"We trust in the living Elohim (God), who is the Deliverer (Saviour) of all men, especially of those who believe" (1 Tim 4:10, NKJV).

In this important passage, the "especially" smaller group (those who believe or trust in Messiah) are a sub-set of the much bigger group, namely "all" of mankind whom Messiah saves. Passages such as this confirm the controversial but important end-time doctrine of universal salvation which is being restored to the Body of Messiah and is challenging the false doctrines of annihilationism and eternal punishment of the wicked.

Thus "the land" in Joshua 2:1 is the whole of the Promised Land, and spiritually-speaking the 'Promised Land' in the New Covenant is the New Creation in Messiah (although it could be argued that the 'land' is the immediate territory belonging to the King of Jericho). There are two conditions to acquiring this land - they're radical, tough, but absolutely necessary if the project is going to have any hope of succeeding and surviving:

• 1. Get rid of the false believers and false leaders from Israel; and
• 2. Totally extirpate the Order or System which is the Old, fallen Creation which has now become heavily paganised and satanic.

You can't fool around with these requirements. You daren't. They couldn't then and we can't now. Only Israel did. At first, they got rid of false believers like Achan and (earlier on under Moses) false leaders like Korah. When they were extirpated, Israel was able to move on and remained in covenant relationship with Yahweh. Under the New Covenant Yahweh isn't swallowing Korah's up into the ground or commanding us to execute Achan's for stealing that which is dedicated to Yahweh. Such folks usually run off on their own...or (if they're false leaders) be run off for attempting a coup against Yah's anointed. Supernatural signs will be given in both cases so there will be no doubt and the ungodly won't be given the opportunity to lord it unrighteously over their brethren.

Our worst enemies are always those within - the Korah's and Achan's. They have to be run off first, whether it is sin within our own souls (which means dying to self) or false brethren within our own ranks who aren't echad (one) with us who are slowly killing the whole body like a cancer - again, they will usually depart on their own:

"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us" (1 John 2:19, NKJV).

We must always remember that our objective is "all the land" and that, for us, is the original task given this ministry by Yahweh - unchanged, undiminished, and unalterable. The five commissions given to the New Covenant Christians in 1990 in the USA (or Messianic Evangelicals as we are more commonly known now) remain unchanged:

• 1. To make talmidim (disciples) of all nations;
• 2. To gather the faithful into the Assembly of the Firstborn on earth;
• 3. To plant the keys of emet (truth) and revelation everywhere;
• 4. To lift a warning prophetic voice; and
• 5. To gather the 10 tribes of Israel (Olive Branch 263).

So what changed for those Israelites? The manna from heaven stopped, Moses the law-giver had gone (the basic Torah revelation was complete), they had to now cultivate the ground, their clothes and shoes were no longer immune to wear and tear, and so on. What's changed for us since our beginnings in the 1980's? The next generation of Messianic Evangelical nevi'im (prophets) must get their own revelations, building on what was laid down by the first generation. A new generation of judges must be raised. They will have their Joshua's - twelve of them to be precise, all apostles, one for each of the tribes - but no more Moses' will be required. Those who try to do things their own way will go the way of Korah, the false Levite, along with the Dathan's and Abiram's who spring up wherever a work of Elohim (God) is taking root.

All this concerns the "land", the overall 'geography' of this work. That vision must always be carefully maintained, you must always be pointing in the right direction. Then Yahweh will unfold His plan one day at a time, starting at the 'Jordan crossing'. But we haven't even conquered the 'East Bank' yet! You can never rush Yahweh's programs. But when they change gear, as it did when the 40 year wandering was completed, things happened at lightning speed!

Jericho, the city of the palm trees, will in due course come into view once we have taken the 'East Bank' and 'Moses' has ascended 'Nebo' in the 'plains of Moab'. Don't worry when you come to face the big 'Jericho' in-the-flesh in your life when it comes, or even the numerous smaller ones in between, for remember:

"There is none one like the Elohim (God) of Israel.
He rides across the heavens to help you,
across the skies in majestic spleandour.
The eternal Elohim (God) is your refuge,
and His everlasting arms are under you;
it is He who cries, 'Destroy them!'
So Israel will live in safety,
prosperous Jacob in security,
in a land of grain and wine,
while the heavens drop down dew.
How blessed are you, O Israel!
Who else is like you, a people saved by Yahweh?
He is your protecting shield
and your triumphant sword!" (Dt.33:26-29a, NLT).

Comments from Readers

[1] "One word I heard during your sermon this morning, "an immovable force", in regards to what you're doing, in regards to the vision, the call...when coming against the enemy we have to be immovable" (SP, Ireland, 11 April 2019)