Introduction: Do you love it when a reasonable and logical plan of action comes together in success? I do. In our study of the Bible, we have been looking at some difficult-to-understand plans of action. Before crossing the Jordan, God told the people to consecrate themselves instead of preparing for war. They crossed the Jordan when it was flooding, even though they did not need to cross immediately. The ark led during the crossing of the Jordan, rather than the soldiers. In their next adventure in conquest, the directions become even more bizarre. Let’s dive into our study of Joshua and find lessons for our life in the way God leads His people!

I. The Covenant Confirmed

A. Read Joshua 5:1-3. Consider this practical question. If you were going to circumcise all the men, would you do it on the Jericho side of the Jordan, or would you do it before you crossed the Jordan? Perhaps by the time everyone healed up, the flooding would have subsided. (If I made the decision, I would have done this in the relative safety of having a flooding river between the army of Jericho and me.)

1. Does this remind you of anything that we studied last week? (God told the people to consecrate themselves before they crossed the Jordan. This is another act of consecration.)

B. Read Joshua 5:9. Has the relationship between God and His people improved? (Read Genesis 17:8-11. The final fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham is beginning now. Part of that start is to show that they are in covenant relationship with God.)

II. The Commander

A. Read Joshua 5:13. The first thing we learn is that Joshua is near Jericho. The second thing we learn is that he is looking down. What kind of things would you guess were going through his mind? (I’ll bet he was concerned. He was probably thinking about how to take the city. What to do to win and not get too many of his men killed.)

1. An armed man with a drawn sword appears. What does it tell us about Joshua that he walks right up to this warrior? (God told Joshua in Joshua 1:6 to be “strong and courageous” – and he is!)
2. If you were Joshua, and you came across a warrior with a drawn sword, would you assume he was from Jericho? (I would. Who else would be between Joshua and Jericho with a drawn sword?)

B. Read Joshua 5:14-15. Does this seem to be the correct answer? God is not on the side of Joshua and the Israelites? (This gets back to the old saying, “The question is not whether God is on our side, but rather whether we are on His side?”)

1. Who is this mighty warrior? What does he mean when he says he is “commander of the army of the Lord?” Is he an angel? (He is not an angel. First, he uses the same phrase, “Take off your shoes, you are on holy ground,” that God used with Moses in Exodus 3:5–6. Second, according to Revelation 19:9-10 an angel will not receive worship. This is Jesus.)

a. Can you reconcile your picture of Jesus with a “mighty warrior” who has a drawn sword?

III. The Command

A. Read Joshua 6:1. What does this tell you about the mindset of those in Jericho? What does it tell you about the extent of the problem faced by Joshua and the Israelites?

B. Read Joshua 6:2-5. Jesus gives the battle plan to Joshua. What is it? (1. For six days march all the armed men around the city once, and the seven priests with them will blow their trumpets. 2. On the seventh day, they will march around seven times, and the last time around, the priests blow their trumpets. 3. When the trumpets give a loud blast, shout! 4. The walls will collapse, and they can take the city.)

C. Assume that your congregation wants to build a new church. I say I have a message from God. The members of your church are to get in their cars and drive around the building site once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they drive around seven times, blow their car horns, then shout, and the structure of the church will arise. Would you believe me?

1. Would you feel foolish driving around in your car blowing your horn?
2. Is this hypothetical any more unbelievable than the plan given to Joshua?

D. Put yourself in the place of one of Joshua’s military leaders and you hear, “Well, guys, here is the plan.” What kinds of questions do you think they asked?

1. As they are walking around, are they vulnerable to the soldiers of Jericho shooting arrows at them?
2. How about opening the gates and attacking them?

E. Do you think the Hebrews felt foolish marching around? Imagine on the sixth day of this a citizen of Jericho calls out from the city wall, “Now we know why you guys were 40 years in the wilderness.”

F. We learn additional details in the verses that follow. Read Joshua 6:9-10. Was it only the priests and the armed men who marched around Jericho? (This reveals that all the people were part of the marching.)

1. Could they talk with each other as they marched? (No. No words were to come out of their mouths.)

a. What do you think is the psychological impact of this wordless group circling the city? (The people of Jericho already believed the Hebrews were aided by supernatural power. These odd and menacing actions would increase their fear.)

G. Was there any glory to be gotten by any man from following this plan?

IV. The Result

A. Read Joshua 6:15–16 and Joshua 6:20. The lesson continues that this is a spiritual battle. Why did God have the people march around the city?

1. Why not have the people just sit under trees and watch?
2. Why did the walls fall down when they shouted?
3. Do you think the walls would not have fallen down if they failed to shout?
4. Are Christians weak in their work because they trust in their own wisdom, and do not give the Lord an opportunity to reveal His power on their behalf?
5. Is it safe to say that God had the Hebrews help, just not the thinking part of the help?

B. Read Zechariah 4:6. Is this account of the defeat of Jericho a universal Christian truth? (If it is, I’m crushed and need to repent because I’m a big planner. Look at verse six: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.” Does this say that God has a problem with planning? No, He has a problem with us thinking that we get credit. Neither our might nor power do it, but God’s Spirit does!)

V. The Plunder

A. Read Joshua 6:17–19. Verse 17 says that the city and all that are in it are “devoted” (ESV/NIV), “accursed” (KJV), “doomed” (NKJV). The Hebrew word is herem, which means a “net” or something “dedicated to destruction.” Why was the city devoted for destruction?

B. Read Genesis 15:16. This suggests it was judgment on the people of Jericho. They were so wicked that God was executing judgment.)

C. Look again at Joshua 6:19. Do you think the treatment of Jericho had something to do with the fact that it was the first city that was conquered? (Several answers seem relevant. First, this is God’s victory, so He owns the conquest. Because Jericho was first, this might reflect the “firstfruits” concept of Mosaic law. The collapse of the walls and total destruction would terrorize the surrounding peoples. Joshua 8:2 tells us that the Hebrews were able to take plunder from Ai, the next city conquered.)

D. Friend, the lesson from Jericho is that we must totally trust God even though we do not understand the way God is leading. We should let Him lead. We should trust Him and not try to take the glory for ourselves. Will you commit to total trust in God?

VI. Next week: God Fights for You.

Copr. 2025, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide your mind as you study.

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What are the lessons from the manner in which Jericho was taken? Join the Hit the Mark Sabbath School panel as they discuss Lesson 4 – The Conflict Behind All Conflicts. It’s the fastest hour of the week!

 

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Daily Lesson for Thursday 23rd of October 2025

The first time Israel fought after the Exodus is recorded in Exodus 17:1-16, where the Israelites defended themselves against the Amalekites. Israel had witnessed God’s almighty power in both afflicting the Egyptians and leading the Israelites to freedom. We have seen that God’s initial plan for Israel did not include fighting against other people (Exodus 23:28, Exodus 33:2).

But shortly after their deliverance from Egypt, the Israelites started to murmur on the way (Exodus 17:3), even questioning God’s presence in their midst. It was at this moment that Amalek came to fight against Israel. This was not by chance. God allowed the Amalekites to attack Israel so that the Israelites might learn to trust Him again.

Without compromising His principles, God comes down to the level where His people are, continually calling them back to the ideal plan: complete and unreserved trust in divine intervention. In fact, the law of warfare (Deuteronomy 20:1-20) was given only after the 40 years of wilderness experience, which was also caused by Israel’s unbelief. New circumstances demanded new strategies, and it was only then that God required Israel to completely annihilate the Canaanites (Deuteronomy 20:16-18).

Besides the reality that war became a necessity for the children of Israel, it also turned out to be a test of their allegiance to Yahweh. God did not give up on them but allowed them to witness His power by experiencing total dependence on Him.

The participation of the Israelites in the conquest is evident from the conclusion drawn by Joshua at the end of the book. Here the Canaanites are said to have been fighting against the Israelites (Joshua 24:11). While the collapse of the walls of Jericho was the result of a divine miracle, the people of Israel had to be actively involved in the battle and face the stubborn resistance of the city’s inhabitants.

Israel’s participation in armed conflict became a way to develop unconditional trust in Yahweh’s help. Yet, the people were always reminded (Joshua 7:12-13; Joshua 10:8) that the outcome of each battle ultimately lay in the Lord’s hands, and the only way they could influence the outcome of a military conflict was through their attitude of faith, or unbelief, toward the promises of the Lord. The choice was their own.

<–Wednesday Friday–>

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