The True Freedom
by Royce
During my morning walk, I was listening to a sermon on Joshua 5–6 as I prepared to share insights on the theme of transition. As the Israelites moved from the wilderness into the Promised Land, I happened to witness a national flag-raising ceremony. In that moment, it struck me how Joshua 5–6 also speaks deeply about the true meaning of freedom.
The world often teaches that freedom is about doing whatever you want — pursuing your dreams and attaining financial independence. But God did not bring the Israelites out of Egypt simply to free them from Pharaoh so they could do whatever they wanted. When Moses confronted Pharaoh, he repeatedly said: “Let my people go, so that they may worship me.”
This is true freedom — when nothing stands between us and God. Neither guilt, shame, fame, sickness, wealth, success, nor failure can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:31–39). In this freedom, we can finally be in Him, and He in us (John 17:20–23).
In Joshua 5–6, as the Israelites approached Jericho, God did not prepare them for combat — He prepared them for worship. He commanded them to be circumcised (5:2–8), reminding them of His covenant with Abraham. He instructed them to celebrate the Passover (5:10). And when Joshua encountered the commander of the Lord’s army, he was asked to remove his sandals, for the ground was holy (5:15).
The Israelite army had never faced a fortified city. Between their crossing of the Jordan and the fall of Jericho, about 3–4 weeks passed — during which God essentially told them to be still. From a military standpoint, this seemed absurd. But God’s true battleground is our hearts. He desires our complete trust. Our hearts remain our own domain, and we must willingly surrender them to Him. It is in that moment of surrender that we find true freedom.
Reflection
Do you still have a “wall of Jericho” within you? Is there anything standing between you and fully surrendering your heart to God?
- Shift your posture from battle-ready to worship-ready. Acknowledge that we are powerless to fight this battle without God.
- Never go it alone. Seek out a community of passionate individuals who, despite the world’s challenges, choose to surrender their hearts to God.
Pray that nothing comes between you and Jesus so that you may experience His deep love for you. He died while you were still His enemy — do not let anything prevent you from coming to Him.