Enter at Your Own Risk

“Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho.” Joshua 6:26

The power of God to destroy the walls of evil is made evident in this account of the destruction of the city of Jericho. The city was not destroyed by the military might of a powerful nation. The people of God were former slaves that had not been trained in the art of war nor did they have the weapons necessary to launch a successful attack against a well-armed walled city like Jericho.

The word of God records the city of Jericho was, “... straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.” (Jos 6:1) What was the reason this great city closed their gates and the king and the warriors cowered inside the gates of the city? God had made Himself known to His people. When the inhabitants of Jericho, “heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel… their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.” (Jos 5:1)

God’s hand on the lives of His people will set fear in the hearts of the enemies of God. We find this truth an empowerment for living victoriously in the dark sin-filled world. We are encouraged with these words from the word of God:

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 Jn 4:4)

When God’s intervention in our lives brings victory we are warned not to restore the walls of failure sin has built. God gave notice to His people after this great victory,  “Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho.” (Joshua 6:26) To rebuild the walls of sin once God gives us victory will remove the favor of God from our lives. 

Just as the city of Jericho was overcome by the power of God; we too have God’s power to overcome “them” that seek to destroy God’s work in our lives. Just as the children of Israel, by obedience, saw the walls of their enemies fall down; we too can live in victory by simple obedience.

The Psalmist King David gives us this insight of how to live in victory:

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” (Psa 1:1)

The born-again believer who rejects the council of the people who discredit God’s power and avoids the pathways of this sinful world will be blessed by the favor of God. This same Psalm warns us of the outcome in our lives when we choose to follow the false ways of worldly people:

“The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.” (Psa 1:4)

Through Jesus we have had the walls of failure and defeat removed from our lives and have become conquerers:

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1Jn 4:4)

But be warned, after your victory there awaits for you an enemy who seeks to bring you defeat by encouraging you to rebuild the walls God has destroyed. To rebuild the walls of sin and seek the counsel of the godless will bring an end to your favor with God. Jesus gives us this parable about experiencing God’s deliverance and not following after Him in obedience:

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” (Luk 11:24-26)

Have you experienced victory in your life by the hand of God? Have you experienced and witnessed the power of God in your life? Have you had your life “swept and garnished” by God’s intervention?  If so, let the parable of Jesus be a warning to you against rebuilding the walls of sin and failure He has destroyed.