Jericho Walls…

Walls can erupt at any time and for any reason…

Some walls we put up ourselves and others tend to find a way to establish themselves: walls come in all forms; they can be emotional walls, mental, physical, positive or negative walls, walls can be put in place for protection, or to keep others out, they can be formed by early childhood years or even adult years, walls can be good and walls can be bad… here we will look at a few perspectives and I want to encourage you to take down some walls and I also want you to put up and build some walls.

The walls of Jericho were in place to establish a sin-filled city and instill upon those inside the walls to follow idols and the disappointing behavior towards the Lord raised an army to break down the walls of Jericho and all the people to be destroyed.

Some choices you’ll have to make that are right will seem very hard and sometimes those choices are the right way, the easy route out can look like walking away or feeding the wild beast… example: ever heard that saying whatever you feed will conquer, so instead of feeding the wild beast (the enemy) feed the Spirit within.

Spies were sent in over the Jericho wall to gain insight and to place favor upon a certain individual…Rahab welcomed the spies to hide out in her home even though she knew her consequences could be horrible if they caught her, instead the Lord placed His hand of protection over her and her household to inhabit the spies for advantage.

Why would the Lord use Rahab? She was in a sinful place herself and her character would have looked flawed to how we see people from the outside appearance and how we already have our minds made up in a few seconds about a persons’ character, we hold judgement on them. I believe the Lord saw her for who she really truly is and since God looks on the heart, she found favor seeking it or not she was seen by God and I think this is so beautiful. We do this to ourselves often we pick ourselves apart find the imperfections and place attention on that, we need to look at ourselves from a different view, and do the same toward others. Gods’ kingdom will grow if we example more of His character rather than our own.

When Joshua was called to lead after Mosses, he had to put up walls to guard his heart, in the meantime the walls of Jericho were about to be destroyed if Joshua had not put up his ‘heart walls’ he would have been sucked into the sins of those around him and to lead well he protected his relationship with the Lord and listened carefully to instructions and obeyed God. Although Mosses followed the Lord, he tended to do some of the wrong things and therefore was not going to enter the promise land. When Joshua was called, he hung on every word the Lord told him and he entered the promise land, so protect your hearts following the Lord no matter how odd or different it may seem God is good and its best to put walls up to protect the Lords call on your life too.

What are your Jericho walls that need to be brought down?

Walls I have had to diminish have been ones where all people are the same, one hurts you they all do. I have had heart ache in different ways in my life but know that the new person placed in your life is not the old one who hurt you. I used to put all females in a box per-say and as I have grown with the Lord, I have taken some of those female people in my life out of the box, just because a female person in your life has caused you pain in some way does not mean that they all do. Yes, from time to time you’ll find some that’ll be positive and some not so much, trust the Lord because He makes a way when there’s no way. He’s the God of the impossible, so He can and will bring life back into those places where you need to trust again and know that not all people are bad. Yes, keep those at bay that need less of your attention and stop putting everyone I the same category.

Leading the people as a judge Deborah had to distance herself from the people so she could gain solitude and hear from the Lord only, she went away from the crowds to find intimate, quiet, peace with God. Deborah set up protective walls between the people and her special relationship with the Lord.

Jesus went away to solitary places often to seek God quietly, intimately and in peace.

If we are constantly getting our advice from those around us, we will battle in the wrong form. We need to put aside time to seek the Lord more, He knows all and sees all, therefore we hand over our battle for it is His alone, if we trust Him and have faith in Him then we need to place our struggles upon Him and rest in His presence.

The Jericho walls were not destroyed by wrecking balls and bull dozers, the administered plan from the Lord was entrusted upon Joshua and carried out so profoundly, the Lord used a strategic checklist and the peoples shout tore the walls apart giving the ability to allow what needed to be completely annihilated to get done.

Let’s get the not so good ‘walls’ out of the way so that by the you can take a long easy breath and settle into relief. Joshua did, and we can too.

Joshua 6:20 When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city.

Judges 5:7 Village life in Israel ceased, ceased until I, Deborah, arose, arose a mother in Israel.

Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Lord, I thank You for the way You are establishing me in You, my every yes in Your directions brings me closer to You and builds my ability to trust have faith and know without doubt You got me and I am Yours, I love that You have beautiful places being prepared and I love that every step towards You I enter the Promise Land, thank You for Jesus to open this gift for each one of us that walks with You. Help us all to tear down walls Your way so we can be free and help us Lord to build protective walls around our hearts to protect our relationship with You so it stays strong and never faulters, we need to seek You deeper than ever before helps us to see not only ourselves the way You see us but to see people the way You do. Plead the Precious Blood of Jesus over all, in Jesus’ name, Amen.