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Taking the Gifts of God
“And Jehovah said unto Joshua, ‘See, I have given into thy hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor” (Joshua 6.2). According to some theories of Gift and Grace, this promise says: 1.) you already have the city and can’t lose it; and 2.) no condition could possibly be asked of you, for then this would not be a gift. Evidently God had not read that particular theory, or did not subscribe to it, for in the next three verses he instructs Joshua concerning specific conditions that must be met in order to obtain the city of Jericho. Using a specific marching order, the people were to march about the city once a day for six days. Then, on the seventh day, they were to circle the city seven times, then some special sounding of the trumpets was to be made, and the people were to shout with a great shout.
When God specifies, the faithful obey specifically. God promised — but the city stood. Joshua and and the people marched — but the city stood. They marched again and again — but the city stood. On the seventh day they marched seven times — but the city stood. Then the priests blew the trumpets, and Joshua said, “Shout, for Jehovah hath given you the city.” “Hath given” mind you, yet the city stood. Then “the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, the people went up into the city every man straight before him” and “they took the city” (Joshua 6.20). Took it? I thought this was a gift of God? Yet that’s what the Bible says, and there goes man’s Gift and Grace theory.
Did God give the city? Yes indeed! The marching, blowing, and shouting did not produce the collapsed wall. This was brought about by the power of God. He could — and did — cause those walls to fall without the assistance of any man. By his power Jericho could be put at the mercy of any to whom he saw fit to give it. And he saw fit to give it to those who would trust him explicitly — do exactly what he said for them to do. Joshua and the Israelites had this kind of faith, and so obtained the gift of God — Jericho.
Simple application: Salvation is a gift of God. It is made possible by his power, love, and plan, centered in the sacrifice of his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Similar to the gift of victory at Jericho, sins are not erased by the waters of baptism any more than the walls fell because of the marching. But to whom does God give this gift? He says he will give it to the believing, who repent and are baptized (Mark 16.16; Acts 2.38). The gift is ready — for those who will take it according to the specific instructions of God.
