Jesus Christ taught his disciples that all of the scriptures speak of him (Luke 24:27; John 5:39,46). There are many signs and references to the person and work of Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah. Lessons for gospel work are to be found throughout the lively book of Joshua that figures the Old Testament type of Jesus in the person of Joshua. As Joshua led God's people, so Jesus has come to conquer Satan's kingdom, to establish his own permanent kingdom, and to lead his people in victory.
A striking lesson is found in Joshua 5 where we with the historical Joshua meet the Commander of the Lord's Army (Joshua 5:13-16). He is referenced as a man yet equally God (note the reference to holy ground like that of Exodus 3:5). Joshua's "Moses experience" was meant to encourage him in the arduous task of leading the Lord's people to conquer the land. More than that we are to see the pre-incarnate Christ leading his people as the one who will gain the certain victory.
The active leadership of Jesus Christ, The Commander of the Lord's Host (see Revelation 19:11ff), is demonstrated in the unconventional overthrow of the city Jericho in Joshua 6. Jericho was a great walled city on the plain of the Jordon River Valley that was essentially the gateway to the mountainous interior of the land of Canaan. There are valuable lessons in the way that the battle for Jericho was waged.
The first lesson is the LORD's call to Israel to be obedient. They were given specific instructions that must have seemed unrelated to taking a fortified city in battle. Israel was to march its army surrounding the priests blowing trumpets and carrying the ark of the covenant around the city one time for six straight days. On the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times with the people shouting on the seventh march. The Israelites were to obey God and watch his work. We need to be obedient and faithful to his word.
The second lesson is that the Lord's power alone gains the victory. We
all know the story of the walls of Jericho falling by the mighty hand
of the Lord. God was showing that his strength alone would bring the
victory. Christ is building his church. We are to point to him and glorify him. The Lord brings the victory in gospel work.
Thirdly, the blowing trumpets and shouts of the people are used by the Lord to point to something other than physical warfare. The use of blowing trumpets are found in Revelation 8:6-11. We see seven trumpets, an interesting repeat of the same number. In both instances of Joshua 6 and Revelation 8:6-11 the trumpets announce the judgment of God. Yet I cannot help wonder that the trumpets don't also refer to the announcement of the gospel which "...is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (I Cor. 1:18). It is the gospel that is the power of salvation, not the power of mankind. Christ build his church by his word.
The shouts of people glorying in God and the blasts of trumpets seemed incongruous to the battle of a walled city. Israel was being taught to trust in the Lord and to glory only in him. Today we wage a war against sin and see the spiritually dead raised not by the power of human programs and activism but by the power of Christ leading us in obedience in proclaiming his word. The glory belongs to Christ Jesus alone!
