January 19th Going Up Higher With God

Joshua 6:1-2

1 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

2 And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.

Gods people were finally at their intended destination - the Promised Land. They’ve been delivered from the bondage in Egypt and now have escaped the judgement of God by crossing the Jordan River. (Jordan means Judgement) Now What? Would they set there on the banks of the river and just wait? That wasn’t Gods plan. God wanted his people to go up higher to the mountain tops of Canaan with Him.

One problem - Jericho stood in the path. Jericho is literally the lowest place on earth, about 900 feet below sea level. But spiritually it was the lowest as well, practicing all kinds of abominations, even human sacrifices. What would the people of God do?

They had basically three options. First, they could just join in with Jericho and it’s wicked culture. Secondly, they could turn back they other way they came and face God’s judgement again. Or they could do it God’s way and blast right through the obstacle preventing them from going higher with God. JeruSalem, God’s favorite place on earth, would be on the mountain top above.

We, as Gods children, are in the exact same place as Isreal in this passage. We’ve been delivered from bondage and judgement by faith in Jesus Christ. Will we progress and go any higher? If so we must remove the “Jericho” from our lives. Whatever the obstacle is which prevents us from going higher with God must be removed and destroyed. What’s your Jericho?