“Especially Jericho!”
- May 23, 2025
- 5 min read
Joshua 2:1 – 'Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” '
Regardless of the obstacles ahead, by believing the promises of God and by counting on the presence of God, Joshua knew that any move forward had to be carried out boldly and carefully.
Lewis Smedes says, “People still make and keep promises. They choose not to quit when the going gets rough because they promised once to see it through…They still dare to make promises and care enough to keep the promises they make.”
Joshua, being a good leader, needed strategic information to form a plan for taking the land. So, he secretly sent two men to spy out the land.
You see, Joshua had already seen what awaited God’s people of promise, and his call is not to be fearful or frightened of anything that may seem to stand in the way of their new home and destination (See Num 14:6-9).
Dallas Willard states, “To fulfil the high calling which God has placed upon us in creating us and redeeming us, we must have the right inner substance or character. We must come to grips with who we really are, inside and out. For we will do what we are. So, we’ll need to become the kind of people who routinely and easily walk in the goodness and power of Jesus our Master. For this, a process of 'spiritual formation' transformation is required.”
We have to realise that any move forward, and growth in God’s Kingdom, is down to God not us. Real growth through the Holy Spirit’s power is where we align ourselves to God’s plan and purpose in God’s way and time.
Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.”
Hans Kung said, “A church which pitches its tents without constantly looking out for new horizons, which does not continually strike camp, is being untrue to its calling… [We must] play down our longing for certainty, accept what is risky, and live by improvisation and experiment.”
“Especially Jericho”
Joshua said to the spies, “look over the land, especially Jericho” (Josh 2:1).
Why “especially Jericho"?
Jericho was the first main stronghold they were going to come across after they’ve crossed the Jordan, so Joshua wanted to find out what they would be up against.
You may be thinking, the last time spies went into the land (Num 13) it resulted in a 40-year detour of wandering in the wilderness.
Moses had sent 12 spies to spy out the Promised Land. One of them was named Caleb. Caleb came back with a positive report, "Let’s go and take possession of the promise that God has given to us." They failed to claim the promise. But 40 years later, God gives them a second chance.
Aren’t you glad that God gives second chances? I am!
Why was Joshua interested in Jericho?
Jericho lay just five miles on the other side of the Jordan and was one of the most formidable fortresses in the land. Conquering this city would not only give them a strong foothold into the land, but conquering Jericho would have a demoralising effect on the rest of the inhabitants of the land.
This is a time to make plans to look forward to the future, hopefully anticipating the good things to come. What has stopped you moving forward, going deeper or pioneering in your walk with God? How long has it been since you revisited those things that need to be overcome?
What is your "especially Jericho” - that one thing that seems to be against you, that one thing you need to overcome? Could it be that God is calling you to something higher or deeper, that is more abundant in your life!
I wonder what would you consider to be a modern-day Jericho in your life?
We need to ensure, like Joshua, that we remain faithful, especially in unexpected places! (This applies to leaders and those being led!)
Paul Tripp defines faith: "Faith is a radical heart commitment to entrust myself and my life to God, that results in a radical change in the way that I live my life."
I don’t think Joshua had forgotten what they saw when they visited the Promised Land 40 years earlier! “But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large” (Num 13:28).
But notice two things:
1) “Especially Jericho” would be the first battle the Israelites fought after they’d crossed the Jordan to take possession of the Land.
2) Actually, it appears that God's primary focus was not the city but a citizen living in it!
Similarly, I believe God longs to send us out into the community to be light and hope. My prayer will be that others will see the Kingdom life and light in and through what we do and say. Remember, “You are the light of the world” ... “You shine like stars in the world.”
Shining for Jesus, that is God's glory being upon us to such an extent that we shine. It’s a description of a person who is close to God and reflects some of his glory as a result of being in His presence and living His life.
God's purpose was not only to claim back the land, but his purpose for the people living in it!
God hasn’t promised that you won't encounter the battles in life; some are the ‘especially Jericho’ ones! But He did promise that through Him, you can conquer every spiritual Jericho because He has promised you the victory in every circumstance in life through Christ. Look at - “thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57);
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere" (2 Cor. 2:14).
Just stop and ponder on this
We need to remember our warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against supernatural enemies that sometimes seem to loom as giants.
John MacArthur says, “The key to spiritual victory and true happiness is not in trying to get all we can from God but in giving all that we are and have to Him.”
I'd like to recommend a book to you. It's entitled, "In the Name of Jesus" by Henri Nouwen. In the book he talks about three very real temptations that we struggle with as humans.
First temptation is to be self-sufficient and self-reliant. So many of us have to feel that we can handle things ourselves and don't need anyone's help.
Second temptation is to be spectacular! Having a celebrity mentality. So many draw attention to themselves - wanting glory for themselves.
Third temptation is we want power - to be the one in charge! We have the human tendency to want to call the shots!
Nouwen goes on to to state that Jesus’ view is given in the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbour as yourself”
Henri Nouwen then says, “The mystery of ministry is that we have been chosen to make our own limited and very conditional love the gateway for the unlimited and unconditional love of GOD.”
What about it? Especially with, and in, the Jericho’s of life!
What is my Jericho? This has left me pondering. Psalm 37:5 an encouraging reminder to trust God in all things.