The Melting Hearts of Jericho: Recognizing God's Sovereignty
"And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath." - Joshua 2:11
In the heart of the Old Testament narrative, we encounter an intriguing moment captured in Joshua 2:11 (KJV), where the spies sent by Joshua meet Rahab in Jericho. The verse reads, "And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath." This moment not only reveals the psychological state of the citizens of Jericho but also reflects a profound understanding of God’s sovereignty and the impact of His presence.
To unpack this, we need to appreciate the context in which these words were spoken. The Israelites had been wandering in the wilderness for forty years, a generation of lost opportunities, but now they were on the brink of entering the Promised Land. News of their arrival preceded them, and the tales of their victories—the parting of the Red Sea, the defeat of Sihon and Og—had spread far and wide, striking fear into the hearts of the inhabitants of Canaan, especially in Jericho.
When Rahab recounts how the news affected her and the people, she reveals the psychological warfare that faith in God can initiate. The phrase "our hearts did melt" suggests an emotional and spiritual collapse among the Jericho citizens, a surrender of their fortitude. As the presence of God moved before the Israelites, fear and dread permeated the air. It is interesting to note that the inhabitants of Jericho did not simply react to the might of the Israelite army; instead, they recognized the power of the God whom that army fought for. As Rahab astutely proclaimed, they understood that the LORD their God was the true God, both in heaven and on earth.
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Joshua 2:11 - "And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath."
"And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath." - Joshua 2:11
Joshua 11:2 - "And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west,"
Joshua 11:18 - "Joshua made war a long time with all those kings."
Joshua 11:9 - "And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire."
Joshua 11:15 - "¶ As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses."
Joshua 11:13 - "But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn."
Joshua 11:23 - "So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war."
Joshua 11:7 - "So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them."
Joshua 11:10 - "¶ And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms."
"And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west," - Joshua 11:2
Joshua 11:16 - "So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same;"
Joshua 11:21 - "¶ And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities."
Joshua 12:11 - "The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;"
"Joshua made war a long time with all those kings." - Joshua 11:18
Joshua 9:2 - "That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord."
Joshua 11:12 - "And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded."
Joshua 11:11 - "And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire."
Joshua 11:6 - "¶ And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire."
Joshua 23:11 - "Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God."
Joshua 13:11 - "And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;"
Joshua 11:22 - "There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained."
Joshua 3:11 - "Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan."
Joshua 2:9
Joshua 19:11 - "And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;"
Joshua 6:11 - "So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp."
Joshua 5:2 - "¶ At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time."
Joshua 11:19 - "There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle."
Joshua 11:3 - "And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh."
"And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire." - Joshua 11:9