by faith...Jericho

Interesting. Scripture tells of a city, not the one who led the people to "march seven times around."

"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down..." (Heb11.30)

Clearly, study should go to the significance of this ancient city before telling of the faith of the one who led the priests and "armed men or men of war, "to march, 

• with the ark of the Lord, 
• quietly, 
• with the exception of blowing the trumpets as they started around each time and as each round was completed, 
• seven times around,
• until the shout went up on the seventh revolution round the city
• "and the walls came tumbling down." (Joshua 6)

Why Jericho?  The Walls of Jericho were a defensive or flood protection wall suggested to date to approximately 8000 BC. If interpreted as an "urban fortification", the Wall of Jericho is the oldest city wall discovered by archaeologists anywhere in the world. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_of_Jerich These walls, at least 13 feet in height and backed by a watchtower or redoubt some 28 feet tall.
To put this into perspective, envision a 4 story tall building. Such was the height of the walls of Jericho. On the other side of the double wall, the embankment continued to climb upwards. The third tier was at the very top of the embankment, where yet another mud-brick wall stood.
At their base, the walls of Jericho stood 46 feet (14m) above ground level outside the retaining wall. To the Israelites below, Jericho seemed impenetrable.

 The total area of the city was probably about ten acres.  So, in all probability, the children of Israel could've marched around the city several times in one day. http://www.israel-a-history-of.com/walls-of-jericho.html

To conquer this city, on foot, would've been in a word, impossible.  It was all uphill with impenetrable stone walls.  All Joshua and his men had would've been homemade swords and no ladders or ropes long enough to hoist themselves upward.  Ahh, but they had so much more.  They had the Lord and His Word.  They were told, clearly, what to do in the book of Joshua, chapter six.  Note the warrior's encounter in Joshua 5.13 and 14,  before the battle ensued.  Joshua saw, "a man...with his sword drawn.." who said, "but captain of the host of the Lord am I now come."   Remember, years later how David said of his fight with Goliath, "the battle is the Lord's." (I Sam 17.47)

Dear believer, any battle you face is not yours. Does it seem impossible to survive and go on?  God put your battle or your problem there for His glory.  Why?  Can't answer that but to point to His Word and know that He is always there beside you, fighting for you, in His time and His way.  They were told to march Seven times around.

In God's economy, seven is the number of completion and perfection.  Much explanation aside regarding the number 7, take it for just that.  God's way is perfect and complete.  If you will "fight" your battle His way, He will prevail and you will be victor.  You will see the enemy fall. (Isa 54.17) "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper...this IS the heritage of the servants of the Lord..."

When the walls are too high and impossible, trust in the Lord and His Word for victory.

by faith...Moses

When thinking of this Moses, if there has been any Sunday School at all in ones life, the first scenes that come to mind would be crossing the Red Sea or the Ten Commandments.  These two great events are monumental, no doubt, but this blogger wants to visit why, "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." (Heb 11.24, 25)

Where did this faith come from?

In Exodus 2.1-10, the story of how he came to Pharaoh's daughter is given.  This story alone, assuming he knew it, would've caused him to inquire further of his lineage. It was indeed miraculous how he was delivered, safely to "another" mother's arms.  Also, in Exodus 2.11, clearly he knew of his lineage. "...he went out unto HIS brethren and looked on their burdens:..."  Of course, we also read how he took matters into his own hands when he saw "his people" being abused. (Exo 2.12)  This of course, didn't turn out so well.  Then, we find him in "the land of Midian." (Exo 2.15)  What did he learn there?  He assisted some women who were being tormented by undesirables and when telling their father, Jethro, the priest of Midian, they called Moses "An Egyptian." (Exo 22.19)  He still had the mark of the world on him (Egypt being a type of the world) by his manner of clothing.

Do you look like the world by the way YOU dress?

So, it appears he settles down to marry a wife and have a family. (Exo 2.21, 22)  It seems Moses quite forgot about his humble, miraculous beginnings because the Lord had to get his attention by way of the "burning bush." (Exo 3, 4.1-18).

Again, to answer the question "Where DID his faith come from," we see that he probably learned many practical as well as spiritual lessons while on the back side of the desert in Midian.  It is also noteworthy that the Lord may wait on us many years before working a miracle in our lives to remind us of that early faith.

His faith was "birthed" into him.  His parents are noted in Hebrews as seeing that he was "a proper child." They would've understood, in a measure, the ways of the Lord in the telling of their fathers and forefathers.  That is, "Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph..." All before the birth of their son.

If we apply this text spiritually, it is true that God gives one faith to believe on His Son, the Lord Jesus and his death, burial and resurrection - the gospel.  As believers, we call this "the new birth." (Jn 3.4, 7) We know He is "the Author and Finisher OF our faith..." (Heb 12.2) but How DOES one come to faith in Him? Quite simply, the Holy Spirit makes one "alive" to God.  Faith is "a gift." (Jn 4.10, Acts 8.20, Rom 6.23, Eph 2.8) It is a supernatural thing that takes place.  Many have expounded the more on this subject but the best picture is the scripture that tells the story of one Lazarus being raised from the dead. (Jn 11.43)

Moses, of God's chosen earthly people, was "birthed" into his faith by way of his heritage.  An heritage that was given as a gift to a people.  So it is with any believer.  Each one called from a dead spiritual life is given a gift to believe. (Eph 2.8)  We can take no credit for it but the knowledge that God has called us to this faith.  "...if ye will hear His voice harden not your heart." (Heb 3.8, 15)

To conclude; the faith Moses had was from his "goodly heritage." (Ps 16.6)  The faith any believer has is a "gift " from God, through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Jn 11.25, Rom 10.17)

Has He called you to this "gift?"

faith...recap

Going forward to the next patriarch in the "Hall of Faith," let us first review.

Before beginning with the chronilogical roll call in the Hall of Faith, let's remember the first lesson. Moses' parents. It is worth mentioning that the Lord can use anyone, anywhere and at anytime.  But to have a "goodly heritage" is especially beneficial in the life of every believer.  However, even if one does not have such a background, one can learn from the experiences of others and gain knowledge from the "hoary (white)" head.

Now to recap, chronilogically:

1. Abel - God was satisfied with his testimony.
2. Enoch - His testimony "pleased" God.
3. Noah - He preached a long time, seeing his family safely in the Ark
4. Abraham - Trusted God's leading, no matter what.
5. Sarah - Overcame jealousy to trust God
6. Isaac - Weak faith but still true to his belief in the end.
7. Jacob - Struggled most of his life with his trust in God.
8. Joseph - Integrity that remained intact in spite of many injustices.

The next study, Lord willing, will be to look at Moses - the Great Deliverer.  But to understand his faith, one must look at the events that shaped him.  Stay tuned...

by faith...Joseph

Installment 13 on the matter of faith.

Joseph's mention of faith has to do with his request to take his bones out of Egypt when his people would be allowed to leave this foreign country. ( Heb 11.22, Gen 50.24)

1. He knew he would never get to leave Egypt alive.
2. Obviously, he knew his people would one day be delivered of this foreign land.
3. He prophesied to "take his bones with them," when they did leave.

To outline Joseph's life is to point out the life of every believer and the injustices that will, inevitably take place.

• Betrayed at the tender age of 17 - when all was still youth and innocence, his own flesh and blood double-crossed him because of jealousy.  The coat of many colors, throwing him into a pit without food or water, selling him into slavery...quite a start to this young man's life.  The pain would've been far greater emotional than physical.  Yet, we will see he stayed true to the integrity of his father's training. (Gen 37)
• A believer may be reassured even in the face of such betrayal that God is watching and loves us still.  He may not deliver as quickly as we want but He is watching.  Joseph was put in the care of one "Potiphar," a close advisor to the Pharaoh himself.  "And the Lord was with Joseph...and Joseph found grace in his sight." (Gen 39.2, 4)  However, don't expect the old "deceiver/the devil" to take it lightly.  Potiphar's wife is first on the scene to trap Joseph. (Gen 39.7-19).  Joseph stayed true and faithful to his father's teaching and the Lord "made (him) to prosper." (Gen 39.23)
• Betrayed a third time by his prison mates...promise broken as he asked them to "remember him" when they got out of prison. (Gen 40.5-23) The prison mate who did not die only remembered him  later to advance his own favor with Pharaoh. (Gen 41.9-13)
• Still this young man kept his integrity.  He was called out of prison to interpret Pharaoh's dream and never once accused the chief butler of forgetting him. (Gen 41.14-57)
• His true spirit and nature shines through again and again.  Now he sees his brothers who had sold him into slavery years before, come to Egypt in want of food.  He had opportunity and reason enough to send them away but he tests them, instead, to see if they are truly repentant.  A warning to believers to discern the face of evil.  Sometimes we can see it, sometimes we can't but this blogger believes in spiritual discernment, as long as one seeks the Lord's face and waits on Him in all things. (Gen 42-44)
• Because of the things he had learned in his youth and kept all his life, God, mercifully, restores him to his family. (Gen 46.29, 30)
• Joseph's conclusion in all this? He knows he will never leave Egypt and prophesies concerning his bones. Yet, he concludes, regarding his life and all the events that made it up and shaped such an exemplary life, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; God meant it unto good..." (Gen 50.20)

What is the lesson here regarding faith concerning Joseph?  

No matter what befalls the life of a believer our goal is to look to the endgame and goal, the Lord Jesus, our Hope "....the Author and Finisher of our Faith." (Heb 12.2)

by faith...Jacob

Here is one whose testimony is that of "schemer."  So, why would he be mentioned in the "hall of faith?"  (Gen 25.27-34, 27.1-29)  Nothing he did testified of faith. 
Back to the beginning:

• even from the womb, he was a manipulator.  He tried to come out first when his little hand grabbed his twin brother's heel (Gen 25.26) - His name means, "deceitful or supplanter."  We are all born with a genetic makeup from our parents.  His came from his mother's side, which came from her daddy, who was also a schemer, to be discovered later in Jacob's narrative.
• He is described as "a plain man."  (Gen 25.27)  He was never the "outdoorsy" type
• We know he could cook and cook well.  (Gen 25.29-34, 27.4)
• Yet, this gift of culinary skill was used to deceive.  First, on his own, then at the direction of his mother. (Gen 25.29-34, 27.4)  He asked for the birthright that belonged to the eldest child.  Because Esau was so hungry, he cared nothing of what was his because he was the eldest.  He favored his belly over his inheritance. Isaac was the same.  The difference was Isaac had grown soft, frail and blind in his old age and thought only of the next meal, it seems.  A warning for the believer; We should get stronger in the faith, not weaker, because of age.

A spiritual lesson may be applied at this point. It is a firm conviction of this believer that God gives each individual gifts and strengths.  When used for His glory, Amen.  When used for personal gain, shame.  Also, Esau is like the believer who favors worldly pleasures over the "gifts and calling of God" that would give so much blessing and contentment. (Rom 11.29)
Believer, beware when you attempt to accomplish any goal your way.  If it's not the will of God you will have to do it on your own and may seem to prosper for a while but you will never be completely happy or content with the result because you did it your way and not His.  Remember when Israel wanted a king and they got one, Saul?  His heart was never like King David who said he was like the "hart that panteth after the waterbrook." (Ps 42.1)  King Saul was not God's will for the people and of course, he eventually failed.

• Because of his scheming and his brother's wrath, Jacob had to flee for his life! (Gen 27.41) Now, he is sent to his Uncle Laban, who would return the same deception for 14 years! Because of Rebekah's part in such deception, she would not see her son anymore.  The law of sowing and reaping is unchangable. (Gal 6.7)
• Before he gets to Padan-aram, where he sees Rachel for the first time, Jacob dreams of how the Lord effects His will in our lives, via angels "ascending and descending" on a ladder stretched form earth to heaven. (Gen 28.12)  He is also given a promise in this dream.  In spite of his horrible manipulation of his birthright, God gives this man a promise in Gen 28.13.
• He finally marries Rachel.  Yet, Rachel's heart is not free from her upbringing, she takes an idol with her. (Gen 31.34)  It seems he cannot escape reaping his youthful manipulation.  Idolatry is brought into his home by his beloved Rachel.   His journey continues...
• He prepares to meet his brother as he journey's towards home. (Gen 32) 
• Before he is reconciled with Esau in Genesis 33, once again, he has a very restless night! (Gen 32.24-30).  This time,  after wrestling with "an angel" all night, he says, "I have seen God face to face..." (Gen 32.30) 
• Other trials and tests befall him and he loses his beloved Rachel in childbirth. (Gen 35.18)

Still struggling to understand why the Lord would name Jacob/Israel in the "hall of faith,"  this blogger can find no reason the Lord would have wanted this man except "the good pleasure of HIS will." (Eph 1.5, Phil 2.13)

Jacob's life was full of deception and lies,  whether his own or those in his own household which should've been in order.  However, one begins to see he is changing.

• He faithfully serves for the object of his affection.  (14 years to win Rachel)
• He cleans up his home when he discovers the idol Rachel took. (Gen 31.34)
• He is genuinely sorry and repentant over the treatment of Esau. (Gen 32.26)
• He struggles with all these issues as we see in his "all night prayer meeting with the angel." (Gen 32.24-30)

And, just in case the pattern of deception with the younger serving the elder continues, it is the younger grandchild of Joseph, he blesses.  He does so and "worships upon the top of his staff." (Heb 11.21, again)  My impression here is that he is STILL upright as he ends his miserable life.  But he has not been destroyed! (2 Cor 4.9-11)

Dear reader, understand, no one is perfect. We are instructed to "strive to enter in...and be ye perfect...as He is." (Lk 13.24, Mt 5.48)

The struggle is real and worth it all.