Victory is Yours

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace

Romans 6:14

The victory of Christ over sin is complete. The believer is not to pray for victory; he is to walk in it. He is dead to sin and alive to God. This is an established fact.

Imagine the scene as it unfolds inside the old city of Jericho. The Israelites have just crossed over the raging Jordon River on dry ground and have gathered at Gilgal. The Canaanites know that an attack is imminent, but they are uncertain as to when and where the Jews will launch the offensive. The King of Jericho rallies his troops as panic-stricken mothers search for their children. Old men wait for the sword to be thrust through their failing livers. Soldiers sharpen their swords as chaos envelopes the city…

And then, peering over the wall, they see a strange sight. About a mile away from the city wall, Joshua, the leader of the enemy hoards, is holding a piece of flint in his hand. As the people of Jericho watch in astonishment, Joshua begins to circumcise man after man and directs others in the same bloody operation. As the sun sets, 250,000 warriors stumble about Gilgal, crippled by a wound that takes away their strength to fight. A few days later they watch as the camp of Israel fills the plain with fire pits, roasting thousands of lambs in preparation for a meal of some kind. A cry arises in Jericho. “It is our chance. Fate has smiled upon us. We must go now to fight these Israelites; they are weakened by Joshua’s stupidity; they are distracted by their gluttony.” But the King, blinded by his evil heart, warns, “It is a trap,” and the people disperse.

The scene now shifts to Joshua as he surveys the city walls. He looks up and sees an armed warrior. Joshua is ordered to take off his sandals because the ground he is standing on is holy. Suddenly, he is told something that changes everything. Joshua staggers back in amazement. Any doubt, concerning the upcoming campaign, is transformed into confidence by the Commander’s announcement. In that great moment, Joshua’s fear becomes courage. The Commander of the Army of the Lord announces that He has given Joshua the city of Jericho.

This truth was directed toward eyes of faith. As Joshua looked back at Jericho, he saw the same wall, standing as tall as it had only minutes ago, and yet, he now viewed it from the eyes of faith. The Israelites marched around the city for seven days, blew a trumpet, and shouted. They shouted the victory that the Lord had promised and the walls came a tumbling down.