Joshua 6:20
“So the people shouted, and the priests blew the trumpets; and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, everyone straight ahead, and they took the city.”
The people had just entered the promised land and this is their first act, battling. It wasn’t to end. They would be at war with the philistines or other enemies continuously. What’s interesting is that this is the promised land. One would think that there would be no conflict. Not so. It was His will. This land once belonged to other people. They wanted it back. God wanted it to belong to Israel, so they fought. God also didn’t want them to blend in, but to follow Him and His ways and to not adopt the gods of the neighbors.
Israel is a model for us. I Corinthians 10:11 says, “Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.” Galatians 5:17 gives us insight into our battle, “For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.” This fight is rarely with others. This battle began when we were born again. Before then we didn’t have the new spiritual self. Only the flesh, so there was no battle.
It’s when we came to Christ, that we had this new nature. Ezekiel prophesies about it in his book, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh”, (36:26). The galatian passage quoted makes it clear that when we got the new nature, the old one didn’t leave. These two natures are contrary to one another.
Jesus gives us some insight into the conflict in Matthew 16:24, ‘Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.”‘ We are to follow Him, not the cravings of our flesh. When we start to want things that are contrary to God and His ways, we ignore them.
A tribal chief was telling his grandson about this battle. He described it as two wolves within. One good and one bad. The grandson asked which one wins. The chief said, “The one you feed the most.” Which ever one is denied grows weak and falls to the back.
We get more insight from Moses in Hebrews 11:23,25, “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin”. Our flesh does promise pleasure. Unfortunately it’s passing and leaves us empty. It doesn’t take long to figure this out. We learn that true joy is in God. There is no regret only peace and contentment in our great God.
As we grow in faith we get it. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.” Following Him gets payment. He rewards us in so many ways. We have the peace and joy in our hearts. We are in a close, loving relationship with God. We have eternity in heaven. He gives us a godly spouse and thus a happy marriage. He gives us good friends. He sanctifies us and makes us better. He is with our children and hears our prayers. Blessing upon blessing upon blessing.
Yes, there is a battle. It will last as long as we’re alive. But it’s good. It helps us deny ourselves and join Jesus. He helps us. Sin is tempting, but He teaches us to flee. The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth. We grow to be more and more like Christ. He teaches us not to envy, but to love others. It’s a wonderful life.