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Walls of Jericho

Joshua follows God's battle instructions for taking Jericho.
Contributed by Moody Publishers
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Hindi
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When the people of Israel entered the land of Canaan, Joshua was their leader, a man chosen by God who had commanded ... ‘Look, I have set the land before you: Go in and possess it.’ – Slide 1
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Canaan was a good land flowing with milk and honey. But this beautiful land was filled with the wickedness of the Canaanite people who lived there. – Slide 2
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In cities like Jericho, people worshiped evil and magic and sacrificed their children to idols. God said these things were abominations and the people who did them must be driven from the land. That was to be Joshua’s task, and it was a tremendous challenge. – Slide 3
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But Joshua had God’s promise ... ‘As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. Be strong and very courageous.’ So Joshua, at God’s command, led his people to the plains of Jericho. – Slide 4
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The great city of Jericho shut its gates when the inhabitants heard the Israelites were approaching. They were afraid of these people and hated their miracle-working God. But instead of changing their ways Jericho prepared too resist. They gathered together their weapons and got ready for war. – Slide 5
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Day and night the men of war kept watch from the top of the walls that surrounded the city. – Slide 6
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Nearby the city of Jericho, Joshua looked at the walls so tall and thick and strong. He knew no human power could break them down. But Joshua remembered ... – Slide 7
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God had said ... ‘No one will be able to stand before you all the days of your life.’ – Slide 8
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And as Joshua looked to the Lord for help, a strange thing happened! – Slide 9
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There stood a man with a sword drawn in his hand! – Slide 10
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And when Joshua asked ... ‘Are you for us, or for our enemies?’ The man said ‘I am the captain of the army of the Lord. Take your shoes off for the place where you are standing is holy.’ – Slide 11
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Joshua obeyed with humble worship. And he listened carefully to all the instructions the Lord gave him. – Slide 12
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When Joshua returned to camp, he called together his men. These men of Israel had sworn to obey Joshua as they had Moses ... – Slide 13
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... but as they listened to Joshua’s orders, the men of Israel realised that obedience would test not only their loyalty to their leader, but their faith in the Lord as well. – Slide 14
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Surely no soldiers ever heard orders such as Joshua’s men heard from their leader! But the men were encouraged when Joshua told them ... – Slide 15
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The Lord said the walls of Jericho would fall down flat! And every man would go into straight into the city! So the men of Israel prepared to obey. – Slide 16
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Inside the walls of Jericho the alarm suddenly rang out ... ‘The Israelites are coming!’ – Slide 17
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To the walls! To the walls!’ they shouted, as every man hurried to his place. – Slide 18
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From the top of the wall, Jericho’s men of war watched tensely as the Israelites approached. First came armed men, then something that looked very strange in the ranks of an army! – Slide 19
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Seven priests were blowing their trumpets continually, and following them ... – Slide 20
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... a mysterious object was hidden beneath rich blue coverings. What could it be? – Slide 21
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Only the people of Israel knew it was the ark of the Lord and it was there to remind them that the Lord went before them, and victory was in the Lord. – Slide 22
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Strange as it seemed, all the Israelites did was to march around the city in a quiet and peaceful way. Not a single word was spoken! The only sounds to be heard were ... – Slide 23
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... the steady tramp of marching feet ... – Slide 24
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... and the endless blast of the priests’ trumpets! – Slide 25
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The people of Jericho just stood still and watched in amazement as the long column of Israelites disappeared among the hills and returned to their camp. – Slide 26
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Jericho’s fighting men were troubled . . . and uneasy. What could it mean? Was it a trick of some kind? – Slide 27
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On the second day, the Israelites did exactly the same thing as they had done the day before. – Slide 28
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The priests carried the ark of the Lord around the city, seven priests always blowing their trumpets before it, and armed men marching in front and the rear. – Slide 29
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The Israelites marched once around the city then returned to camp without anyone saying a single word! – Slide 30
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Every day for six days the same thing happened, and every day the people of Jericho watched and waited. – Slide 31
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Some were still fearful and troubled, remembering the things they had heard about Israel’s Almighty God. – Slide 32
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But others began to mock. These foolish Israelites marching around and around the strong walls of Jericho, blowing their trumpets and carrying a mysterious box! Anyone could see they’d never get into the city that way! – Slide 33
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On the morning of the seventh day, the Israelites marched around the city as before. But then, instead of returning to their camp, they marched around a second time, and then again and again and again! Seven times the Israelites marched around the city. – Slide 34
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At the end of the seventh time, every man stopped and faced the walls, completely surrounding the city of Jericho. – Slide 35
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And suddenly the trumpets stopped! Every man waited for the Lord’s appointed signal! – Slide 36
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A long blast of the trumpets! Then Joshua cried ... – Slide 37
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‘Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!’ – Slide 38
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And while the people of Jericho looked on, not knowing that their end had come .... – Slide 39
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... the people of Israel raised a great shout of victory! – Slide 40
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And the walls of the city fell down flat! – Slide 41
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The Israelites went straight in to attack the city, just as the Lord had said. And they utterly destroyed all the evil that was in the city as God had commanded. – Slide 42
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After that time, wherever they went in the Promised land, the Israelites had victory as long as they had faith in the Lord and obeyed His commands. – Slide 43
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God promises a life of victory for Christians on the same condition! Have faith in the Lord, obey His commands, be strong and very courageous. (Ephesians 6:10-11). – Slide 44
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