Only Joshuas and Calebs will pass through.
God speaks forth His word in advance so that we know how to fight in the battle. It’s not for the purpose to retreat.
1 Timothy 1:18-19
“This charge and admonition I commit in trust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with prophetic intimations which I formerly received concerning you, so that inspired and aided by them you may wage the good warfare, Holding fast to faith (that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence) and having a good (clear) conscience. By rejecting and thrusting from them [their conscience], some individuals have made shipwreck of their faith.”
As Paul’s word to Timothy was “stay in Ephesus” 1 Timothy 1:3 – that is the word of the Lord to us. Stay at your post. DON’T GET OFF THE WALL!
Don’t be intimidated by the mockery of the proud and arrogant.
King Hezekiah’s words to His people were this:
2 chronicles 32:7-8 “Be strong and courageous. Be not afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there is Another with us greater than [all those] with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles. And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”
But the King of Assyria in his arrogance addressed the children of Israel and the watchman on the wall, said no nation or god has defeated me before.
2 Chronicles 32:15-19
“So now, do not let Hezekiah deceive or mislead you in this way, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my hand or the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand! And his servants said still more against the Lord God and against His servant Hezekiah. The Assyrian king also wrote letters insulting the Lord, the God of Israel, and speaking against Him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver His people out of my hand. And they shouted it loudly in the Jewish language to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, that they might take the city. And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of the hands of men.”
But Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed and God sent an angel and defeated his “captains” and the king went home in “shame”. When he got home his own kinsman killed him!
2 Chronicles 32:20-22
“For this cause Hezekiah the king and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed and cried to heaven. And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So the Assyrian king returned with shamed face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, they who were his own offspring slew him there with the sword. [II Kings 19:35-37.] Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies, and He guided them on every side.”
We see the taunts were at those who were on the wall, to terrify them “so that” they may take the city. The only thing between them taking the city was the watchman on the wall!
STAY ON THE WALL, STAY IN EPHESUS, FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH!