The Destruction of Jericho

Joshua 6:1–14
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The city of Jericho had fortified walls up to 25 feet high and 20 feet thick. Jericho was a symbol of military power and strength. The Canaanites considered it invincible (v. 1). God told Joshua that Jericho was already defeated and would be delivered into his hands (v. 2). Christians also fight against a defeated enemy. Our enemy Satan has been defeated by Christ (Rom 8:37-39; I John 3:8). We do not have to be paralyzed by the power of a defeated enemy. We can overcome him through Christ’s power. 

You may be asking then, why did God give Joshua all these complicated instructions for the battle (vv. 3-5)? Perhaps this strange military maneuver was a test of the Israelites faith and their willingness to follow God completely. It would show them that their victory would only come from the Lord, not their own military might (Num. 10:9).  

One morning as the people in Jericho looked out their windows, they saw a group of soldiers just marching around the wall. Behind the soldiers were seven priests blowing on trumpets and more priests carrying the ark of the covenant (vv. 6-8). Behind this came all the people marching without a sound except that of trumpets and marching feet. This required discipline for them to be silent and to wait for God’s appointed time. They completed their march around the city, and then they went back to their camp (vv. 9-11). The following morning the same thing happened, and again they returned to the camp. For six days this went on (vv. 12-14)!! Can’t you imagine what the people of Jericho were thinking? “How foolish these people are. They are not fighting us; in fact, they seem harmless.” However, God had given the instructions to Joshua that He would give Jericho and the king into their hands and how He was going to do it. Joshua carried out God’s command. 

Application

Am I obeying God when others may think I am foolish? God’s way is foolishness to the world, but it is the power of God to us that are saved (see I Cor. 1:18). I am kidding myself if I think I can overcome the battles of this life without fighting them with His weapons.