Joshua and the Crumbling, Tumbling Walls of Jericho

By Harrison Woodard

“…This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success…” — Joshua 1:8 KJV

Based on Joshua 1-6

After Moses died, God selected Joshua as the new leader of the Children of Israel. Joshua had faithfully served God and trusted Him completely. Forty years earlier, he and Caleb had been the only two of twelve spies who had been ready to enter the Promised Land. The other ten were too frightened by what they saw. Because of their unbelief, an entire generation of Israelites died wandering in the wilderness. But with Joshua in charge, things would be different this time around.

As they camped near the Jordan River, God gave Joshua some final instructions,

“I have given you the land from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River, and from the wilderness to Lebanon. All this land belongs to the Children of Israel according to my Word. No one will be able to stand against you. As I was with Moses, I am with you. I will never leave you or forget you.”

And then God gave Joshua the secret to success,

“Be strong and courageous. Do not forget any of my commandments. Do not turn to the right or left and you will prosper. Keep speaking my Words and meditate on them night and day and you will have success in everything you do!”

Confident God was in charge, Joshua sent two spies to investigate Jericho, the first city they would face. They entered Jericho and stayed at the home of a prostitute named Rahab.

Now everyone in Jericho was on pins and needles. They knew that God had promised the land to the Israelites and it wouldn’t be long before they showed up to take it. So when the King of Jericho heard that there were spies in Jericho, he immediately sent his guards to Rahab’s home.

Rahab told the guards that the spies had already left and if they hurried, they could catch up with them. But actually she hid them on her roof.

“We have heard of all the great the things God has done for you and how He brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt. All of Jericho is afraid and knows that we cannot fight against God,” said Rahab. “Please promise me that when Jericho is taken, you will save me and my family.”

The spies agreed.

“Tie this red cord in your window. Anyone within this house will be protected,” said the spies.

They climbed down a rope from her window near the wall. After hiding a few days, they returned to the Israelite camp and reported everything to Joshua.

Armed with his faith in God, Joshua marched his army across the Jordan River, which parted to allow them to cross on dry ground.

Now Jericho was a formidable city with huge thick walls. After wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites were not prepared to attack such a city with conventional weapons. So instead, God gave Joshua a supernatural plan that would give them the victory.

Early in the morning the army lined up and marched around the city carrying the ark. The priests blew their trumpets, but nobody spoke a word.

Up on the battlements, the King of Jericho watched the Israelites do this for six days. Each morning the army marched once around, the priests blew the trumpets, but nobody said a word.

“What are they doing?” asked the King. “They have no siege engines and no way to breach our walls!”

Jericho’s defenders started laughing at the Israelites. But the laughter didn’t last very long.

On the seventh day, the Israelite army marched around the wall as before. The priests blew their trumpets and the people said nothing. They did it again. And then they marched around it four more times. As they started marching the seventh time around, Joshua commanded the people to shout because God had given them the city.

So the priests blew their trumpets and the entire army shouted out praises to God. As they lifted their voices in victory, the walls came tumbling down, taking most of Jericho’s defenders with it. The Israelites charged through the debris and captured the city.

They completely destroyed Jericho and took all the gold and silver and placed it in the treasury devoting it all to God. The two spies rescued Rahab and all her family and they lived the rest of their lives in Israel.

Some Things To Think About

The inhabitants of Jericho had heard about all the miracles God had done for Israel in Egypt. They knew God had given their land to Israel. But they insisted on opposing not only Joshua, but also God. They put their trust in their gods, army and the thick walls around Jericho. But none of that would protect them. God delivered Jericho into the hands of Israel without a fight. God will always give the victory to those that put their trust in Him.

Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho. She had the faith to believe that God would save her family. She gave her protection to the Israelite spies and in return, her family was protected. No matter what your past is, God will save and protect anyone who will only ask and believe.

In ancient times, a thick wall placed around a city was almost impossible to breach. A traditional approach was to lay siege to the city and starve them into submission. Or an army could spend weeks trying to mine under the walls, breach them with rams, or scale them with towers or ladders. None of these approaches were even considered by Joshua. God had given him a most unusual plan for defeating Jericho. Joshua may have been able to conquer Jericho through traditional methods, but instead he followed God’s plan completely and within seven days, the city was theirs. When we wait on God’s plan, we will find that His way is so much easier than our own.

One of the keys to the Israelites’ victory was complete obedience to God’s plan. The army marched around in silence, with only the trumpets sounding each day. As the soldiers marched, their faith grew. While they were silent, they were unable to start murmuring or doubting God’s plan. By the seventh day their faith was alive. They could see the victory and expected it. By the time they circled the city that seventh time, in their hearts they knew the city was theirs. Joshua gave the order to shout and every man let loose a victorious faith-filled shout that brought those walls right down. Faith spoken from the heart will still move any obstacle you’ll ever face in life. Start building your faith today!

Faith Building Exercise

Faith comes by continually hearing God’s Word. When you confess (speak) God’s Word out loud you are planting God’s incorruptible seed in your heart (spirit). In time, God’s Word will take root in your spirit (heart) and produce a plentiful harvest of all God’s blessings and promises in your life.

Confess these out loud every day until you believe them in your spirit. They will build your faith. Look up these verses and read them as they appear in your Bible. You can always trust God’s Word because He cannot lie.

God is my strength and my invincible army. He enables me to conquer everything.
(Habakkuk 3:19)

I meditate on God’s Word and I am prosperous and successful.(Joshua 1:8)

The Lord gives me victory wherever I go.
(2 Samuel 8:6)

With God I gain the victory and trample down my enemies.
(Psalm 60:12)

My faith rests on God’s power not men’s wisdom.
(1 Corinthians 2:4-5)

I do the will of God. I receive what was promised.
(Hebrews 10:36)

The Lord fights for me. I hold my peace and remain at rest.
(Exodus 14:14)

I commit to the Lord whatever I do and my plans succeed.
(Proverbs 16:3)

God is with me. I am successful in everything I undertake.
(2 Kings 18:5-7)

I always triumph in Christ.
(2 Corinthians 2:14)

To learn more, click here: Walls of Jericho.

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