How can we apply the concept of consecration in Joshua 6:17 today? Setting the Scene “Now the city and everything in it are devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house will live, because she hid the men we sent.” (Joshua 6:17) Jericho’s fall was more than a military victory; it was an act of consecration. The Hebrew term ḥērem means “devoted” or “set apart”—here, for total destruction or for God’s exclusive use (Joshua 6:19). Key Truths About Consecration in Joshua 6:17 • God alone decides what is His. • Anything declared “devoted” must not be used for personal gain (cf. Joshua 7:1). • Obedience brings protection and blessing; disobedience brings judgment (Joshua 7:11–12). • Rahab illustrates mercy within judgment—faith sets a person apart for life, not destruction (Hebrews 11:31). Timeless Principles We Carry Forward • God still calls His people to be “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9). • Consecration always involves separation from sin and devotion to God (2 Corinthians 6:17). • True consecration is holistic—body, mind, possessions, relationships (Romans 12:1). Practical Ways to Consecrate Our Lives Today 1. Examine and remove forbidden things – Break with habits, media, or relationships that oppose God’s holiness. – Like the Ephesian believers who burned occult scrolls (Acts 19:19), destroy, don’t store. 2. Surrender valuables to the Lord’s treasury – Honor the Lord with your wealth (Proverbs 3:9). – Budget with kingdom priorities instead of mere personal comfort (Matthew 6:33). 3. Guard your home as Rahab did – Make your household a safe place for faith: Scripture read aloud, Christ-honoring conversation, hospitality toward fellow believers. 4. Keep corporate worship central – Israel marched together; today we gather together (Hebrews 10:25). – Congregational life reinforces personal consecration. 5. Maintain ongoing accountability – Joshua quickly addressed Achan’s sin; we invite trusted believers to speak into our lives (Galatians 6:1–2). Consecration in the Church Community • Collective purity matters: one person’s compromise can hinder the entire body (1 Corinthians 5:6). • Corporate victories flow from corporate obedience—Jericho fell when Israel marched in unity. • Devoted resources fund mission: giving, service, and spiritual gifts are all “placed in the treasury of the LORD” (Joshua 6:19). The Blessing of Obedient Consecration • Protection: God shielded Rahab; He still “guards the way of His faithful ones” (Proverbs 2:8). • Presence: The ark’s silent procession signified God with His people; Christ now indwells believers (Colossians 1:27). • Power: Walls crumble when God’s set-apart people move in faith, enabling victories that human effort alone cannot achieve (Ephesians 3:20–21). Consecration in Joshua 6:17 calls every believer today to decisive separation from sin and wholehearted devotion to the Lord, confident that His faithfulness rewards those who are wholly His. |
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