Egypt Babylon Egypt: The Resistance of Jericho. Land and Seed Issue. Part
2. Study 33
02/07/20
It is the purpose of God to reveal deeper Revelations to establish our
faith both intellectually and spiritually in His wisdom, a true increase in
knowledge is contrary to what the Serpent offered to Eve. The seed of covetousness
was veiled in the form of what we may equate to unfair modern trade deals, a taste of a fruit in exchange to
Dominion and The beautiful Eden. This is the folly that entices us all; we gain crumbs in exchange to our health, wealth and dignity. The curiosity of our
African forefathers did not necessarily kill them but tamed these warriors; to enter
a league with the devils was a gain that was a bitter loss. Some of our
African “leaders” enter into treaties that bind our lands and seed to
multinationals and leave our people in abject poverty, they refuse to see that
they are walking the nations closer upon the brink of a precipice without due
consideration of safety. If the likes of Lobengula et al had avoided the first
approach to danger, we all would be like Ethiopia who never was colonized. In
the Spiritual we should also understand that the soul’s interests cannot be
trifled with, our capital is our character. We need to cherish our characters
as we would a golden treasure or land. Moral purity, self-respect, a strong
power of resistance, must be firmly and constantly cherished. There should not
be one departure from reserve; one act of familiarity, one indiscretion, may
jeopardize the soul in opening the door to temptation, and the power of
resistance becomes weakened. Had the Canaanites believed the warnings of God,
and repented of their evil deeds, the Lord would have turned aside His wrath
towards them, as he afterward did from Nineveh. But by their obstinate
resistance to the reproofs of conscience and the warnings of God’s prophets,
that generation filled up the measure of their iniquity, and became ripe for
destruction. Loss of land is usually a result of eating the seed of the
serpents like Adam and Eve, how bitter was a loss of Eden over one fruit and
its seed. While we should be keenly alive to our exposure to the assaults of
unseen and invisible foes, we are to be sure that they cannot harm us without
gaining our consent. The people of Jericho who long had defied the pleadings of
the Spirit of God thought themselves safe under their fortified walls, yet this
apparent safety brought them only evil. It inspired them with that spirit of
stubborn resistance to the Hebrews and their God which speedily brought unutterable
woe upon the doomed city; only a Rahab-like Spirit would give the Canaanites an
everlasting inheritance which is not earthy but a heavenly City whose Maker is
God.
"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things
saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works,
and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of
them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear
none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some
of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten
days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life"
Revelation 2:8-10.
Said Jesus to his disciples: “If ye were of the world, the world would
love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of
the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto
you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they
will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours
also.” [John 15:19, 20.] And on the other hand our Lord declared plainly: “Woe
unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the
false prophets. [Luke 6:26.] The spirit of the world is no more in harmony with
the Spirit of Christ today than in earlier times; and those who preach the Word
of God in its purity will be received with no greater favor now than then. The
forms of opposition to the truth may change, the enmity may be less open
because it is more subtle; but the same antagonism still exists, and will be
manifested to the end of time. - GC88 144.1
One of the first lessons a child needs to learn is the lesson of
obedience, for in obedience to God lays their freedom and restoration to Eden.
Before the child is old enough to reason with the folly of the seed of the
serpent, it may be necessary to teach them to obey God who has spoken
germination principles in His seed which will prevail against the serpent and
his seed of spiritualism. By gentle, persistent effort, the habit of
discernment and wisdom should be established. Thus, to a great degree, may be
prevented those later conflicts between will and authority that do so much to
create alienation and bitterness toward parents and teachers, and too often
resistance of all authority, human and divine.
“Truth of heavenly origin is confronting Satan’s falsehoods, and this
truth will prevail.... Opposition and resistance only serve to bring out truth
in new, distinct lines. The more truth is spoken against, the brighter it will
shine. Thus the precious ore is polished. Every word of slander spoken against
it, every misrepresentation of its value, awakens attention, and is the means
of leading to closer investigation as to what is saving truth. The truth
becomes more highly estimated. New beauty and greater value are revealed from
every point of view”—Manuscript 8a, 1888.
When the Hebrews had entered Canaan, they had not subdued it; and to
human appearance the struggle to gain possession of the land must be long and
difficult. It was inhabited by a powerful race, who stood ready to oppose the
invasion of their territory. The various tribes were bound together by the fear
of a common danger. Their horses and iron battle chariots, their knowledge of
the country, and their training in war, would give them great advantage.
Furthermore, the country was guarded by fortresses—“cities great and fenced up
to heaven.” Deuteronomy 9:1. Only in the assurance of a strength not their own
could the Israelites hope for success in the impending conflict. - PP
487.1
One of the strongest fortresses in the land—the large and wealthy city
of Jericho—lay just before them, but a little distance from their camp at
Gilgal. On the border of a fertile plain abounding with the rich and varied
productions of the tropics, its palaces and temples the abode of luxury and
vice, this proud city, behind its massive battlements, offered defiance to the
God of Israel. Jericho was one of the principal seats of idol worship, being
especially devoted to Ashtaroth, the goddess of the moon. Here centered all
that was vilest and most degrading in the religion of the Canaanites. The
people of Israel, in whose minds were fresh the fearful results of their sin at
Beth-peor, could look upon this heathen city only with disgust and
horror. - PP 487.2
To reduce Jericho was seen by Joshua to be the first step in the
conquest of Canaan. But first of all he sought an assurance of divine guidance,
and it was granted him. Withdrawing from the encampment to meditate and to pray
that the God of Israel would go before His people, he beheld an armed warrior,
of lofty stature and commanding presence, “with his sword drawn in his hand.”
To Joshua’s challenge, “Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?” the answer
was given, “As Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come.” The same command
given to Moses in Horeb, “Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place
whereon thou standest is holy,” revealed the true character of the mysterious
stranger. It was Christ, the Exalted One, who stood before the leader of
Israel. Awe-stricken, Joshua fell upon his face and worshiped, and heard the
assurance, “I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the
mighty men of valor,” and he received instruction for the capture of the
city. - PP 487.3
In obedience to the divine command Joshua marshaled the armies of
Israel. No assault was to be made. They were simply to make the circuit of the
city, bearing the ark of God and blowing upon trumpets. First came the
warriors, a body of chosen men, not now to conquer by their own skill and
prowess, but by obedience to the directions given them from God. Seven priests
with trumpets followed. Then the ark of God, surrounded by a halo of divine
glory, was borne by priests clad in the dress denoting their sacred office. The
army of Israel followed, each tribe under its standard. Such was the procession
that compassed the doomed city. No sound was heard but the tread of that mighty
host and the solemn peal of the trumpets, echoing among the hills and
resounding through the streets of Jericho. The circuit completed, the army
returned in silence to their tents, and the ark was restored to its place in
the tabernacle.
With wonder and alarm the watchmen of the city marked every move, and
reported to those in authority. They knew not the meaning of all this display;
but when they beheld that mighty host marching around their city once each day,
with the sacred ark and the attendant priests, the mystery of the scene struck
terror to the hearts of priest and people. Again they would inspect their
strong defenses, feeling certain they could successfully resist the most
powerful attack. Many ridiculed the thought that any harm could come to them
through these singular demonstrations. Others were awed as they beheld the
procession that each day wound about the city. They remembered that the Red Sea
had once parted before this people, and that a passage had just been opened for
them through the river Jordan. They knew not what further wonders God might
work for them.For six days the host of Israel made the circuit of the city. The
seventh day came, and with the first dawn of light, Joshua marshaled the armies
of the Lord. Now they were directed to march seven times around Jericho, and at
a mighty peal from the trumpets to shout with a loud voice, for God had given
them the city.
The vast army marched solemnly around the devoted walls. All was silent,
save the measured tread of many feet, and the occasional sound of the trumpet,
breaking the stillness of the early morning. The massive walls of solid stone
seemed to defy the siege of men. The watchers on the walls looked on with
rising fear, as, the first circuit ended, there followed a second, then a
third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth. What could be the object of these mysterious
movements? What mighty event was impending? They had not long to wait. As the
seventh circuit was completed, the long procession paused, The trumpets, which
for an interval had been silent, now broke forth in a blast that shook the very
earth. The walls of solid stone, with their massive towers and battlements,
tottered and heaved from their foundations, and with a crash fell in ruin to
the earth. The inhabitants of Jericho were paralyzed with terror, and the hosts
of Israel marched in and took possession of the city. - PP 491.1
The Israelites had not gained the victory by their own power; the
conquest had been wholly the Lord’s; and as the first fruits of the land, the
city, with all that it contained, was to be devoted as a sacrifice to God. It
was to be impressed upon Israel that in the conquest of Canaan they were not to
fight for themselves, but simply as instruments to execute the will of God; not
to seek for riches or self-exaltation, but the glory of Jehovah their
King. - PP 491.2
Study By Tarisai P Ziyambi
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