Already Yours

After Israel crossed the Jordan River, they entered the Promised Land. And in response to their obedience, God gave them a city.

In Jewish culture, the act of giving is not merely transactional. It is deeply tied to relationship, honor, and covenant life. A gift is not just an object; it is an expression of connection.

To give a gift elevates the recipient, placing them in a position of honor. It naturally creates a sense of responsibility and response. It extends goodwill and favor, strengthens relational bonds, and signals peace, generosity, and continued connection.

Giving is about establishing relationships and shaping covenant identity.

And Jericho was a gift from God to Israel.

Joshua 6:2 (NLT)

“But the LORD said to Joshua, ‘I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors.’”

The Hebrew word for “given,” nathan, is used over 2,000 times in the Bible. It carries the idea of bestowing gifts, assigning responsibility, granting authority, and surrendering something into

another’s care. The Topical Lexicon describes it as reflecting both a gracious God who gives and a covenant people called to mirror His generosity.

The word nathan appears again later in the chapter.

Joshua 6:16 (NIV)

“…Shout! For the LORD has given you the city!”

I have received many gifts in my life, but never anything as significant as a city. I can only imagine how the Israelites must have felt.

Perhaps, like anyone faced with such a moment, the Israelites felt excitement and confusion. This gift brought an immense challenge—receiving it required faith and obedience beyond their previous experience, making the gift seem, from a human perspective, almost impossible to accept.

Joshua 6:1 (NLT)

“Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in.”

Jericho stood in the Jordan Valley, near the Jordan River. It was fertile, heavily fortified, and known as the City of Palms. Its walls were so thick that houses were built into them. This was not a small settlement—it was a fortified stronghold designed for security and defense. Even its structure reflected its strength. And beyond the walls stood a king and trained warriors prepared for battle.

The city was in lockdown because of what they had heard about Israel—the Jordan River miracle and the reputation of God’s favor had already preceded them, striking fear into Jericho’s inhabitants.

Yet this is the gift God gives Israel—a promise embodied in an apparently impenetrable city that challenges expectations.

God is not unaware of this tension. So He speaks beforehand with assurance in Joshua 6:2 that “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors.”

So, while Jericho was a gift, the fulfillment of victory was a promise that the Israelites had to actively walk into.

In this, we see a distinction: some things are already given, others must be possessed through time.

For example, God's love and forgiveness through Christ are gifts we receive from the moment we believe—nothing more is needed. But other aspects, such as spiritual growth, wisdom, and the fulfillment of our unique purpose, unfold as we walk with God over time. The Israelites received the promise of Jericho, but they still had to march around the city and trust God day by day before taking possession of it. In the same way, there are promises in our lives that are assured, yet we must continue in faith and obedience to fully experience them.

Just as with Jericho, God’s promises always precede the battles required for their fulfillment. His instructions may defy human strategy, but full obedience is called for because He has already secured the outcome.

Jericho was a complicated gift, but God never intended Israel to fight alone. He had already gone ahead of them. The victory was secured before they ever took a step around the city.

Likewise, there are seasons in life when God gives not only gifts but also promises of what is to come.

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV)

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

The Greek word for “promise“ is epaggelia. It refers to an unbreakable word from God, a divine commitment full of grace.

Understand that the outcome of God's promise is already determined. You are not expected to fulfill it by your own strength, nor to strive for it alone. God Himself is with you in every step, faithfully walking alongside you through each challenge, assuring you of His steadfast presence and support.

A promise from God is not something you manufacture through effort; it is a divine commitment, an unbreakable word that carries grace for every step of the journey.

I love how Paul overlaps the ideas of gift and promise in Romans and Galatians, further reinforcing that a promise functions like a gift once it is received in Christ, by faith.

Romans 4:16 (NIV)

“Therefore, the promise comes by faith….”

Galatians 3:14 (NIV)

“He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”

In the same way, Israel’s promise of victory came before they possessed Jericho. Their obedience—walking around the city in faith—was their way of trusting God to fulfill His word.

Romans 4:18 (NLT)

“Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”

Romans 11:29 (NIV)

“…for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.”

If you have received a promise from God, it is imperative that you stand firm in faith. You must continue to hope, even when circumstances give you no reason to.

God’s promise will precede the gift. Whether or not you obtain the gift through obedience and faith is up to you.

If you are struggling to hope because you believe the promise but haven’t received the gift, know that God hasn’t changed His mind. He hasn’t taken the gift away. It’s still yours. It’s still waiting for you. The victory is still yours.

Abraham waited for years for God’s promise to be fulfilled in his life. Though he faced impossibilities and disappointments along the way, Abraham kept trusting God, believing that what was promised would come to pass.

There have been seasons when I felt exhausted, unable to see how God’s promise could ever come to pass. But looking back, I can see how God was always faithful, working behind the scenes and preparing me for the gift.

If you are in the waiting, know that you are not alone; many before you have stood in that same place, and God has proven Himself trustworthy every time.

Keep walking in obedience as you circle your own Jericho. Resolve it in your heart and mind that you will receive the gift God has already given because what He promised is already yours.

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