“So Yehoshua said to the Children of Israel: Until when will you show yourselves slack in coming, in settling the land that YHWH, the God of your Fathers, has given you? Provide yourselves three men per tribe [of the seven tribes who had not yet inherited the promises of God], that I may send them out. Let them arise and walk about in the land, that they may write it up according to their hereditary-property; then let them come back to me…. I shall cast lots for you in the presence of YHWH at Shilo.” (Joshua 18:4,8, FOX SBVII)
There were seven tribes that had not settled in their land at the time that territorial claims were established in the book of Joshua. Like the initial spies sent into the land, here, these seven tribes were sent out to survey the land.
Seven represents a holy completeness in the Bible. It was in seven days that the earth was created and then there was rest. Seven is also a number the represents the return of Christ and the dawning of a new day. Jude 1:14 says, “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: “Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones.”
Shilo, would be the place that the glory would dwell and reside in the days of Judges and Samuel. It was a place of promises fulfilled. It signified rest as the meaning of the name denotes the Messiah, “the peaceful one.” [1]
Genesis 49:10, KJV, prophesies about the coming Messiah, “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”
As the army of God charged forward and took possession of the land and settled in it according to the promises and directive of the Lord, they came into rest. Joshua 21:42 (FOX SBVII) says, “And YHWH gave rest to them round about, just as he had sworn to their fathers, so that no man was able to stand up before them among all their enemies— all their enemies, YHWH gave into their hand.”
Rest, nuach, means to abandon, put aside and forsake. It can also mean to give comfort to others. Sometimes I can think that having some quiet time is restful. However, here, rest came not from escaping or running away from difficulty, but by dispossessing those things that caused one not to rest.
What do we allow to still live among us that is not of the kingdom order? Sometimes rather than deal with things that hinder us in our walk with God, we justify it by comparing ourselves to others and think to ourselves that it is not too bad. Anything of the worldly order that we carry into our new lives with Christ will keep us from rest if we just accept it and live among it.
God has for us to totally come out of our old ways completely and to live fully for Him. Leaving sinful areas in our life will cause pain and unrest. Our rest is going to be found in our complete freedom.
In Isaiah 40:1-2, the Lord says, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.”
We no longer need to walk in the bondage of the past. Freedom is ours through Christ. Sometimes we just walk into this as our inheritance. Other times, freedom comes from entering into the battle and/or letting our brothers/sisters in Christ battle for us or with us in prayer.
The book of Joshua is about the battle in inheriting the promises of God. This was the Promised Land that had been given to them throughout their lineage as Abraham, many generations before, had been called to walk the land and establish altars of worship in it.
Joshua describes what possession on the land looks like in Joshua 22:5 (FOX SBVII), “Only: Be very careful to observe the commandment and the Instruction that Moshe, the servant of YHWH, commanded you: to love YHWH your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, to cleave to him and serve him with all your heart and all your being!”
Covenant is central to the theme throughout Joshua. God had promised the land through covenant to the people of God. They entered into the land and took it by following within the covenant, not outside of it. It was a holy war that was being waged. It was a fight to dispossess that which was devoted to destruction and possess that which is devoted to adoration.
Sometimes we (speaking of me here) can see the battle as winning and getting our way. We can try to manipulate the situation and maneuver to make the outcome come out as we desire and think is right. We end up frustrated when it doesn’t turn out as planned.
However, the real battle happens behind the scenes. It is in going before God and wrestling with Him in prayer that we win the battle as He changes our heart and shifts things in the earthly realm into Kingdom alignment. This is where our strength lies to shift circumstances.
Too often, we live in our circumstances, and like the people at Marah, we complain and grumble over not getting what is needed for the situation rather than pray with expectation that God is good and will provide all that we need. We grow bitter rather than better by allowing our circumstances to shape our prayers and strengthen our faith.
The covenant was based upon consecration to God and faith in Him. Consecration has to do with separation onto God in holiness. How can two walk together unless they be agreed?
Steve Harrison, in his book, Consuming Love, writes, “To be holy is to be free from the power of sin, and that’s what He offers us. We must embrace the journey to holiness. However, holiness isn’t a ‘grit your teeth’ self-reform. As I was meditating one day on revival, I felt the Holy Spirit speak to my heart, ‘The key to revival is not more of force but less resistance.’ Holiness is a life of abandonment to the will of God, not increased self-effort.” [2]
He noted that being broken and being yielded to God while aspiring to a life of greater consecration was the example that David gave us of holiness. He also mentioned humility and a servant’s heart are key. [3]
Make yourself small and obedient and God will let others see and be in awe of Christ in you. It says about Joshua, “On that day YHWH mad Yehoshua great in the eyes of all Israel; they held him in awe, just as they had held Moshe in awe, all the days of his life.” (Joshua 4:14, FOX SBVII)
Not walking in holiness would not necessarily keep them out of the battle, but it was a recipe for failure. Lesson of Ai – “conquest is a privilege, not a forgone conclusion” [4] Like with the Israelites that took plunder and buried it, things “hidden in the ground” will bring disaster.
Where do we hide and put on a good front? What do we cover up rather than dig up, open up and deal with? Some might be rooted in past pain we do not want to dredge up. Not knowing how or not taking the time to deal with our sin, we can be tempted to pretend it does not exist. However, the stench of it is always noticeable and it will eventually come popping up to the surface.
One may repent, regather, and God may give them a second chance. Like with the Israelites, the only wise determination in this case is to take those things hidden in places of darkness and empty “them out in the presence of YHWH.” (Joshua 6:21-26)
While failing to walk in holiness is a recipe for failure, failing to walk in faith determines the ability to go into battle as well as the outcome. “You have what your faith expects.” The Israelites, at first, refused to step into battle and it resulted in them being led in the wilderness for the next generation to come, delaying the promise. While faith is strengthened in the battle, one cannot enter the battle without initially having a measure of faith.
As part of the covenant, the Lord had promised that descendants of Abraham would inherit the Promised Land. In Genesis 28:12, it says about Jacob, “On reaching a certain place [formerly Luz (Almond Branch-divine authority) and now Bethel (House of God)], he spent the night there because the sun had set. And taking one of the stones from that place, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. And Jacob had a dream about a ladder that rested on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down the ladder. And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, ‘I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie.…’”
Not only would his ancestors inherit the Promised Land, but there was open access to heavenly realms. There became an open portal between heaven and earth where man could access heaven and heaven would come to earth. The armies of heaven could synergize and integrate with the armies of earth (Exodus 17:12, Joshua 5:15, 2 Kings 6:16).
Jesus prophesied that He would now be the portal door between heaven and earth, giving us access to an open heaven in John 1:51 (TPT), “I prophesy to you eternal truth: From now on you all will see an open heaven and gaze upon the Son of Man like a stairway reaching into the sky with the messengers of God climbing up and down upon Him!”
Today someone sent me a video clip from Apostle Benny Mclean who notes that Jesus is the door that stand open in heavenly realms. He noted that there were several examples of people in the Old Testament accessing this door as a place of translation into heavenly realms. [5]
He noted that that you must know how to tap into the Spiritual realm where you are. He gave examples throughout the Bible of where heavenly realms were accessed and people were translated outside of time to eternal realms and then back in through a portal. While access was triggered by different means, he suggested that having no resistance, being dead to oneself, was key. [6]
Ezekiel 8:3 says about him being transported, “He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood.”
Jesus also walked in this as He was seen and then suddenly gone. He also brought others along and they were transported together as Jesus was on the Sea with his disciples and then they were suddenly on the other side. Jesus had accessed a portal and crossed over.
Phillip stepped into this after baptizing the eunuch. Phillip 8:39 says, “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the LORD suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.”
Enoch accessed this realm by faith [7], pleasing God. God took him up into heavenly realms and Enoch most likely just didn’t want to come back. Hebrews 11:5 says, “Faith translated Enoch from this life and he was taken up into heaven! He never had to experience death; he just disappeared from this world because God promoted him. For before he was translated to the heavenly realm his life had become a pleasure to God.”
Faith opens the heavenly realms to the covenant promises of God when in alignment with God’s divine purposes and plans for the hour. There is divine provision available to enter into the promises of God when accessed by faith.
In Hebrews 11, it gives several examples of God’s heavenly provision for what was needed in the occasion. Faith brought Kingdom order to earth, established things, enabled people, imparted, pulled down another realm and also transported people to another realm.
“Faith opened the way for the Hebrews to cross the Red Sea…” (11:29); “Faith pulled own Jericho’s walls…” (11:30); “Faith provided a way of escape for Rehab the prostitute…” (11:31).
Hebrews 11:32-34 (TPT) says about faith opening up Kingdom realm access to us, “And what more could I say to convince you? For there is not enough time to tell you of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets.
Through faith’s power they conquered kingdoms and established true justice. Their faith fastened onto their promises and pulled them into reality! It was faith that shut the mouth of lions, put out the power of raging fire, and caused many to escape certain death by the word. Although weak, their faith imparted power to make them strong! Faith sparked courage within them and they became mighty warriors in battle, pulling armies from another realm into battle array. Faith-filled women saw their dead children raised in resurrection power.”
As Apostle Benny Mclean noted, there are other ways that the portal doorway between heaven and earth was accessed. David accessed heavenly realms by worship, John accessed realms by permission when told to “come up here” through the Door standing open, and Solomon accessed heavenly realms through extravagant sacrifice. Moses accessing the heavenly realm by command as he was to remove his sandal as he was standing on holy ground. [8]
When the Lord had commissioned Moses to set His people free from Egypt, there was a portal into heavenly realms open. “So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?” When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered. “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:3-5, BSB)
Joshua also accessed heavenly realms in the same way as his spiritual father, through a portal that was opened before him. Joshua was ready for battle and it was now time to claim the land. He knew he was to be strong and courageous. However, an encounter with God changes everything.
An encounter with God not only strengthened Joshua for battle but assured him that he was not in it alone. The portal to heaven was wide open above Him and the troops of heaven and earth were coming together in a unified flow of authority and power.
“Now it was, when Yehoshua was at Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and saw: now here, a man standing opposite him, with his sword drawn in his hand! Yehoshua went toward him and said to him: Are you for us or for our foes? He said: No, rather, I am the commander of YHWH’s forces. Now I have come! Yehoshua flung himself on his face to the ground and bowed low, and said to him: ‘What does my Lord have to speak to his servant?’ The commander of YHWH’s forces said to Yehoshua: Put off your sandal from your foot, for the place on which you are standing—it is holy! And Yehoshua did thus.” (Joshua 5:15, FOX SBVII)
Joshua could see the Lord of Hosts, the Lord strong and Mighty in Battle. David had revelation of the Lord as a Mighty Warrior through his worship and intercession. In Psalm 45:3-4 he says, “Now strap your lightning-sword of judgment upon your side, O Mighty Warrior, so majestic! You are full of beauty and splendor as you go out to war! In your glory and grandeur go forth in victory! Through your faithfulness and meekness the cause of truth and justice will stand. Awe-inspiring miracles are accomplished by your power, leaving everyone dazed and astonished!” (Psalm 45:3-4, TPT)
David cries out for the portal doorway to be opened to heavenly realms while worshiping in Psalm 24:7-10, (TPT), “So wake up, you living gateways! Lift up your heads, you ageless doors of destiny! Welcome the King of Glory, for he is about to come through you. You ask, ‘Who is this Glory-King?’ The Lord, armed and ready for battle, the Mighty One, invincible in every way! So wake up, you living gateways, and rejoice! Fling wide, you ageless doors of destiny! Here he comes; the King of Glory is ready to come in. You ask, ‘Who is this King of Glory?’ He is the Lord of Victory, armed and ready for battle, the Mighty One, the invincible commander of heaven’s hosts! Yes, he is the King of Glory!” (Psalm 24:7-10, TPT)
Lord, “Your glory-kingdom, O God, endures forever, for You are enthroned to rule with a justice-scepter in Your hand!” (Ps 45:6). We praise you that you love us so much that you have made your Kingdom available to us. Increase our faith to access it. Help us to see and walk in ever-increasing measures of Your Kingdom realm.
1,4. Fox, Everett. The Early Prophets: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings. The Schocken Bible Volume II. Shocken Books, New York. 2014
2-3. Harrison, Steve. Consuming Love: Commitment, Friendship and Passion. Destiny Image Publishers, Inc. 2007.
5-8. The Supernatural Conference for 2021. A Prophetic Alert. Session 5. Located at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dF4LMnxcV6w. Last Accessed: 2/26/2021.
