Lesson 155 - Junior
Memory Verse
"Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city" (Joshua 6:16).
Notes
Joshua's Encouragement
By the hand of Joshua, God had led the Children of Israel into the land of promise. Their first camp was at Gilgal where they had kept the feast of the Passover ([JOS:5:10]). Thus the Children of Israel had obeyed the Word of the Lord and had conquered a mighty barrier and natural defence. They had already tasted of the fruit of the Land of Canaan ([JOS:5:12]). How encouraged they must have felt! No doubt they were eager to go to battle against their enemies, as God had told them to do.
Joshua was near the city of Jericho. Perhaps he was meditating in his heart and wondering about the capture of Jericho which was called the "city of palm trees" (Deuteronomy 34:3). Perhaps Joshua was waiting upon the Lord for instructions and orders concerning this walled city. As Joshua lifted his eyes, he saw a man in whose hand was a sword. Joshua was not afraid, for the Lord had said to him: "I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee" (Joshua 1:5).
Joshua went to this man and asked him if he was for them or against them. The man answered that he was come as the Captain of the host of the Lord. Joshua immediately "fell on his face" to worship him. Joshua did not say that God had made him the leader of the Children of Israel. But, in a humble spirit, he asked for instructions from the man with the sword. Joshua removed his shoes as he was directed to do. The place was a holy place for the presence of the Lord was there.
God would have us to be reverent in His presence today, too. God expects us to be quiet, with a spirit of worship, in the church and in any other place while others are praying or reading the Bible. Many times a child of God considers as sacred and holy ground the place where God especially blessed and encouraged him, whether it was in church, in his home, or even in some other place.
Joshua bowed there humbly in reverence, as the presence of the Man brought new courage and faith to his heart. Who was this Man, the Captain of the host of the Lord? Who could be the Captain but Jesus Himself? In Hebrews 2:9, 10, we read that Jesus is the Captain of our salvation. It is He who leads us on from victory to victory, when we lift our eyes to Him and obey His every word.
God's Plan
The people who lived in Jericho had heard what God had done for the Children of Israel. Fear was in their hearts ([JOS:2:11]) and they shut the gates of the city so none could leave nor enter. That did not hinder the Children of Israel, for it was not God's plan for them to take the city by sending armed men through the gates.
Joshua was told that God had given him the city of Jericho, the king, and the army. But they did not come to Joshua to surrender. Joshua and the Children of Israel had to fulfil God's plan for them. They were given strange orders, but they did not hesitate to obey them.
They marched around the city of Jericho - once each day for six days. They marched in the order that God directed. First went the men of war; then seven priests, carrying seven trumpets made of rams' horns, went before the Ark of the Lord; and then followed the "rereward," the people. No doubt this was a strange sight to the people of Jericho as they watched from their houses on the wall.
Undoubtedly those who lived in Jericho expected to hear the noise of battle. All that could be heard was the sound of marching feet and the blast from the seven trumpets, which might have been terrifying to the enemies but was, nevertheless, inspiring to Israel's armies. After they had thus marched around the walls of Jericho, they went back to their camp.
No Security
The king of Jericho may have wondered about the strange warfare, and asked, "What is their plan? How long will they march? What can they accomplish by such actions?" Probably after the sixth day, their enemies began to feel quite secure for they could see no danger in the strange campaign. Many times when sinners begin to feel secure, then their judgment comes. In I Thessalonians 5:3, we read: "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them . . . and they shall not escape."
How did the Children of Israel feel about all this marching? They had not lost confidence in God, even though there were no visible results. God had promised that the wall would fall when they compassed the city the seventh time on the seventh day. With patience and faith they obeyed the orders of God.
Some people take things into their own hands. They cannot wait upon the Lord. They may like to be up and doing when the Lord wants them to tarry. God wants obedience whether in going or in staying. What do you think would have happened if some of the fighting men had been impatient and by their own plans and strength tried to conquer Jericho? Without a doubt, they would have failed and perhaps lost their lives as well as the lives of others. Their orders were to march and not to fight. The Psalmist said, "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD" (Psalm 27:14).
A Christian may not always see the immediate effect of his prayer or the effort he puts forth for the Lord. With patience, perseverance, and faith, he continues, knowing that his work for the Lord is not in vain ([1CO:15:58]).
Shout of Faith
As the seventh day dawned, the hour of Jericho's destruction drew near. The Children of Israel arose early that day to compass the city seven times. We do not know how far they marched nor how much time it required, but the Children of Israel were obedient and went in the strength of the Lord. The Prophet Daniel said, "The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits" (Daniel 11:32).
They had received marching orders that specified no talking or shouting until the signal was given. Perhaps this was to confuse the enemy or to give the Children of Israel a chance to meditate and consider what God was doing for them. Sometimes people, grownups as well as children, get themselves into trouble by too much talking. Their time and thoughts are occupied with the talking. Often it leads to foolishness and other things that are not edifying.
The Children of Israel had marched six times before; on the seventh day they marched seven times. Perhaps their enemies looked from their windows and some may have even jeered at the unusual warfare. But the Children of Israel were concerned only about obeying God.
At last their marching had come almost to its end. Joshua said, "Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city." Some doubters might have said: "What have we to shout about? The walls are still in place. When the walls fall, then we will shout."
Victory
The Children of Israel did not doubt. They believed and did as Joshua commanded them. When the seven priests blew the trumpets, the people shouted and "the wall fell down flat." The Bible does not say that the wall fell because of an earthquake nor as a result of marching feet. It says, "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days" (Hebrews 11:30). The wall did not fall a little at a time, some each day, nor were there just openings here and there; "the wall fell down flat" when the people shouted.
No instruments of war nor any other force was applied to it by the Children of Israel; but according to their faith the wall fell, enabling them to enter the city.
Saved
Joshua sent the two spies (
) to rescue Rahab and her family who were in the house which had the scarlet line bound in the window ([JOS:2:18]). Rahab, her family, and all that she had, were saved; but the rest of Jericho was destroyed, so Rahab dwelt in Israel from that time on.All the vessels of brass and iron, all the silver and gold were put into the treasury of the Lord and consecrated to Him. But for themselves, the people saved not one thing, lest not only they but the whole camp would be accursed. This was the commandment of the Lord utterly to destroy because of the wickedness of their enemies.
Christians today do not have great walled cities like Jericho to conquer, but many have problems which seem just as impossible to solve. Often children have difficult situations arise in their schoolwork or among their associates. Some children have unsaved parents who do not cooperate with them in serving God. The Lord always solves these problems if, with faith and patience, the child of God takes them to Him in prayer. Perhaps their prayer will not be answered the first time; but by obedience and by trust in the Lord His people always become the victors.
When some hard problem comes into your life, remember that your faith in God can cause the "walls" to fall. Your testimony will be like that of Abijah, king of Judah. Before going to battle he said, "And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain." So the children of Judah "prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers" (II Chronicles 13:12, 18).
Questions
1. Why did the Captain of the host of the Lord appear to Joshua
2. Why was Jericho "shut up"?
3. Why did the Children of Israel march around Jericho so many times?
4. What did the people have to shout about?
5. What caused the wall of Jericho to fall?
6. Why were Rahab and her family saved?
7. What else was not destroyed?