In Part 1 of this study, we found that faith, obedience and a willingness to battle the enemy would be requirements for securing the promises of God in our own lives. In Chapter 2, we find that intentionality and strategy are often needed to enter into everything that God has for us. The chapter begins, “Then Joshua, son of Nun, secretly sent two spies from Shittim. ‘Go, look over the Land,’ he said, ‘especially Jericho.’”
We need to remember that the last time Israel sent spies into the land, the outcome was less than spectacular. Moses sent twelve spies into Canaan and ten came back convinced that the tribes were too powerful for them to overcome. These unfaithful reports won the day and caused Israel to wander in the wilderness for forty years due to their unbelief. I am certain that Joshua sent proven men of faith this time and he sent them secretly. The text could mean that the people of Jericho would be unaware of the spies, but it may also mean that the Israelites were unaware that spies had been sent. This secrecy may have been to insure that Joshua would hear the report first so that no seed of unbelief would be sown even unintentionally.
Sometimes the faith we have is fragile and a lack of faith most often insures victory for the enemy. An essential principle here is that we should be careful to surround ourselves with people of faith when we seek to secure a promise from God. Cynics, doubters, and unbelievers can undermine our faith and, consequently, rob us of our promise. Someone once suggested that Jesus told some of those he healed to tell no one because the doubt of those they told might undermine the faith of the one who had received healing, so his healing might be lost. I’m confident that Joshua did not send the spies to determine if Jericho could be taken, but rather to determine the best way it could be taken. Sometimes we wonder if God will keep a promise rather than wondering how he will keep it. One perspective questions God’s faithfulness while the other affirms it. The difference is significant.
An essential principle for all warfare is that a wise person should know the enemy he or she is about to face. Paul told the church at Corinth, “I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Cor. 2:10-11). He tells us in Ephesians that we are to put on the full armor of God so that we can stand against the devils schemes (Eph.6:11). Satan is strategic concerning his attempts to undermine our faith, keep is from being effective, or lead us away from God. We should be strategic as well in our battles against him. In other words, we should know how to engage in spiritual warfare because our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers in heavenly realms. (Eph. 6:11-12).
Too many of us live our spiritual lives haphazardly. We tend to react to spiritual challenges rather than being proactive and preparing for what the enemy will certainly send our way sooner or later. We wait for the crisis to come and then try to build our faith in the midst of that crisis rather than having established a foundation of faith for the storms that will inevitably come. At other times, we quickly repent of all our sins that we have not been dealing with to that point. When we do, we may be going through the motions of repentance in a last ditch effort to win God’s favor without godly sorrow truly being in our hearts. These are reactive ways to face the enemy rather than strategic ways. These ways are less than effective.
A wise general not only knows the enemy and his strategies but also knows his own strength and weaknesses. Satan is a predator. He will always attack our weakness rather than our strength. He will always attack the stragglers rather than those firmly in the herd. We should know and acknowledge our vulnerabilities so that we can strengthen our defenses around our weakness through prayer, time in the Word, and accountability with others. We should steer clear of places where temptation will be amplified. A man struggling with alcoholism should not attend a party where everyone will be drinking. A man who struggles with lust should be very careful about what he watches or reads and the beaches or swimming pools he frequents. A wise man builds walls and guard rails around his vulnerable zones.
In order to be strategic, we must take stock of ourselves, our strengths, our weaknesses, our resources, and the known tactics of the enemy before we wake up one morning to find ourselves in his crosshairs. Many of the promises of God will require an invasion of enemy territory to remove the barriers that the enemy has erected that stand between you and the blessings the Father has for you. Preparation before the battle is essential.
In addition, what the two spies discovered was that those in Jericho were full of fear. They found an unlikely ally whose heart God had prepared for that very moment. Another principal for securing the promises of God is that we should be open to unexpected vessels that God has placed in our path to help us on our way. In this case, the prostitute Rehab became a key element inthe victory of Israel because her testimony confirmed that God had already prepared the way for Israel’s victory.
The “faith boosters” the Lord supplies are also helpful as we move to secure the promises of God. Sometimes those boosters are progress we are beginning to see after months of prayer. It may be a prophetic word assuring you of God’s involvement or a scripture that the Holy Spirit highlights as you spend time in the Word. Receive those things as encouragement from the Lord as you press in for your promise. God wants you to secure his promises. Jesus died that you might receive them. Be strategic, intentional, and prepared as you remove the enemy from your path.
