The Everlasting Covenant

The Victory of Faith

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.” ⁴ EVCO 374.3

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” ⁵ EVCO 374.4

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” ¹ EVCO 375.1

The children of Israel were in the promised land, but yet to all appearances they were no more in possession than they were before. They still dwelt in tents, while the inhabitants of the land were intrenched in their cities, which were “walled up to heaven,” fully as strong as when the mere report of them caused the children of Israel to lose heart and turn back forty years before. But stone walls and multitudes of armed men avail nothing when the battle is the Lord’s. EVCO 375.2

“Now the city of Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.” ² Jericho was the first city to be taken and the mode of operation which the Lord directed, was one calculated to test to the utmost the faith of the Israelites. All the people were to march round the city in perfect silence, with the exception that the priests who went ahead with the ark were to blow on their trumpets. “Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any noise proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.” ³ As soon as they had completed this silent circuit of the city, they were to go into camp. The same thing was to be done for six successive days, and on the seventh day the circuit was to be made seven times. EVCO 375.3

Picture to yourself the situation. Tramp, tramp, the whole multitude went round the city, and then went into camp. Again and again they repeated this, with no apparent result. The walls stood as high and as grim as before; not a stone had fallen, not a bit of mortar had been loosened. Yet not one word of complaint was heard from one of the people. EVCO 375.4