Great Battles of the
Bible:
The Fall of Jericho
By Michael
K. Farrar, O.D.
© January
6, 2006
In Joshua 6
we are given the well-known record of how God gave Jericho into the hands of
Israel by collapsing the walls that surrounded the city. Possibly if we examine
this account once more we can learn something of how God works through those
dedicated to His Kingdom to bring about His will.
In Joshua 6:1
we are told, “Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No
one went out and no one came in.” Here we see that the king of Jericho had
found out that spies had left the city and would therefore educate his enemies
of any possible weaknesses in the city’s defense. To prevent any further
security risks he locked up the city and prevented anyone from entering or
leaving. We find Israel outside the city contemplating how to attack and
overcome a well-fortified city.
Joshua 6:2
gives us a most amazing statement, “Then the LORD said to Joshua, ‘See, I
have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting
men.’” This statement from the Lord at first glance appears to be tempting
Joshua and his men to laughter. I mean think about it. Here Joshua is outside a
city with huge thick walls that cannot be scaled or destroyed by any means
fathomable and God says, “I have delivered the city into your hands.” I
know what stopped these godly men from laughing. They had faith in their God.
They had not been told the plan yet, but they knew that if God said it was a
battle that could be won, it would be won. God was on their side and that was
all that mattered. We Christians today could take lessons from such men of war
or should I say, men of faith!
In Joshua
6:3-5 God gives His instructions for how the city is to be conquered. He
states, “March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six
days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On
the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing
the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all
the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the
people will go up, every man straight in.” Again the instructions from the
Lord as to how to defeat the defenses of Jericho seem comical. If you are
honest with yourself you have to admit if you didn’t know the end of the story
you might be tempted to laugh at these instructions. You might especially be
tempted to question such plans if you were a soldier that was used to fighting
your enemy on the battlefield with swords, shields and arrows. Once again,
these men of faith immediately respond, not with scoffing laughter, but with
faithful obedience.
Joshua 6:6-11 states, “So Joshua
son of Nun called the priests and said to them, ‘Take up the ark of the
covenant of the LORD and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.’ And
he ordered the people, ‘Advance! March around the city, with the armed guard
going ahead of the ark of the LORD.’ When Joshua had spoken to the people, the
seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the LORD went forward, blowing
their trumpets, and the ark of the LORD’s covenant followed them. The armed
guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard
followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. But Joshua had
commanded the people, ‘Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not
say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!’ So he had the ark of
the LORD carried around the city, circling it once. Then the people returned to
camp and spent the night there.”
This faithful
obedience to God’s war plans continued for all of the six days just as God had
instructed. I’m sure if we were commanded to do this we might oblige God the
first or second day. I wonder if we would be so enthusiastic in our obedience
the third, fourth, fifth and sixth days? Think about it. You would have to get
up early each morning, assemble in formation and march around the entire
perimeter of this large city in the hot sun. Fighting in battle is one thing,
but to feeble human understanding such marching in a circle is senseless. But
despite probable temptations to complain and bicker, these people of God had
faith that God’s instructions were to be obeyed to the letter. They did not
doubt their Lord God. Each morning they consistently and methodically marched
exactly as they were instructed. I wonder what kind of world we would be living
in today if every Christian followed the instructions in scripture so
faithfully. Would we see our culture and society impacted by such holy living?
I think so. Sin would very likely not be so rampant and non-believers would be
attracted to such role models of servanthood and ministry. Our country has seen
the impact of righteous behavior during the revivals of the Great Awakenings in
America. Not only were Christians revived in their faith and numerous people
saved from their sins, but also whole towns and cities shifted in their
perceptions of what was important in life. Worldliness gave way to morality.
Bars and brothels were closed down not because of persecution and picketing
from Christians but because their customers for these sins were non-existent.
There was no profit in sin during the years of faithful obedience of servants
of Christ.
In Joshua 6:15-20 we see God grant
His reward for obedience and the fulfillment of His promise to Israel. The
passage reads, “Then on the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched
around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they
circled the city seven times. The seventh time around, when the priests sounded
the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, ‘Shout! For the LORD has given
you the city! The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the LORD.
Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be
spared, because she hid the spies we sent. But keep away from the devoted
things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of
them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and
bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and
iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury.’ When the trumpets
sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people
gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and
they took the city.” What a joy it must have been for these servants of God
to see what can happen when tested faith is held in place. What amazement there
must have been in the power of God to work through humble servants. It must
have been a sight that overwhelmed the senses to hear the huge thunderous crash
of the walls of Jericho fall down, to feel the ground shake beneath your feet,
to brush the dust of pulverized stone from your eyes and clothes that had once
been impenetrable walls. I believe that the shout the people gave was not a
loud grunt or senseless noise. I believe it was a shout of praise and worship
to the God of Israel. Such should be our praise and worship when we are
faithful and see God provide. We should let our lungs fill with air and our
voices trumpet the mighty works of God when he heals an illness, provides
financially, protects those in danger and gives safe passage to a destination.
The rest of Joshua 6 tells of the
continued dedication of Israel to the Lord God. They devoted the city to the
Lord and destroyed every living thing within it. Rahab and her family were
rescued for their help in the battle and the city was burned to the ground. The
precious metals were put in the Lord’s house and Joshua pronounced a curse on
anyone who sought to rebuild the city.
Verse 27 ends the chapter with a
summary of what happens to those who decide to obey the Lord. The blessing is
twofold. You experience the presence of the Lord close to your soul and those
around you sense His presence and respect your reputation. These blessings are
given to both reward the faithful and bring glory to God and His Kingdom. If
more Christians today lived as Joshua and Israel did during the siege of
Jericho Christians would have a much richer reputation in the world and a much
greater impact on the society in which we live.
In what way can you be a Joshua?
Are there corrections that you can make in your life as you seek to live
according to the prompting of the Holy Spirit? I would challenge you to listen
for direction from God’s word, from the Holy Spirit and from the wise counsel
of those faithful ones you fellowship with.