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December 12th is the fantastic story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho. This chapter of history is a great reminder that victory comes not through man’s might but God’s power. It is also a good reminder to obey God even when what He demands doesn’t make sense to us for one reason or another. Joshua 6: 1 - 20 He sent the Chest of God on its way around the city. It circled once, came back to camp, and stayed for the night. Joshua was up early the next morning and the priests took up the Chest of God. The seven priests carrying the seven ram's horn trumpets marched before the Chest of God, marching and blowing the trumpets, with the armed guard marching before and the rear guard marching after. Marching and blowing of trumpets! On the second day they again circled the city once and returned to camp. They did this six days. When the seventh day came, they got up early and marched around the city this same way but seven times—yes, this day they circled the city seven times. On the seventh time around the priests blew the trumpets and Joshua signaled the people, "Shout!—God has given you the city! Everything and everyone is to be destroyed for a Holy curse is upon it. Except for Rahab the harlot—she is to live, she and everyone in her house with her, because she hid the agents we sent.” God told Joshua to go to battle knowing the enemy was already defeated. Jericho was the largest, oldest city in the area that God had promised to the Israelites. It was huge, heavily guarded and very imposing, my man’s standard impenetrable. But God had different ideas. When Christ came into the world he came to settle a fight with Satan, to make a way back to God for those who wanted it. Since Christ came Satan, mans enemy, has been defeated and the victory has been secured through Christ’s birth, crucifixion and resurrection. Although there are battles often in our lives, some which seem huge and insurmountable, we have the assurance that Christ has already won the victory and understands our problems.
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