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Battle of Jericho Bible Story
By Jack Zavada
The battle of Jericho (Joshua
1:1-6:25) featured one of the most astounding miracles in the Bible,
proving that God stood with the Israelites.
After the death of Moses, God
chose Joshua, son of Nun, to be the leader of the Israelite people. They set
about to conquer the land of Canaan, under the Lord's guidance.
God said to Joshua:
"Do
not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you
wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, NIV).
Spies from the Israelites
sneaked into the walled city of Jericho and stayed at the house of Rahab, a
prostitute.
But Rahab had faith in God.
She told the spies:
"I
know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has
fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because
of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you
when you came out of Egypt ... When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear
and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in
heaven above and on the earth below.” (Joshua
2:9-11, NIV)
She hid the spies from the
king's soldiers, and when the time was right, she helped the spies escape out a
window and down a rope, since her house was built into the city wall.
Rahab made the spies swear an
oath. She promised not to give their plans away, and in return, they swore to
spare Rahab and her family when the battle of Jericho began.
She
was to tie a scarlet cord in her window as a sign of their protection.
Meanwhile, the Israelite
people continued to move into Canaan.
God commanded Joshua to have
the priests carry the Ark of the Covenant into the center of the
Jordan River, which was at flood stage.
As soon as they stepped into
the river, the water stopped flowing.
It
piled up in heaps upstream and downstream, so the people could cross on dry
ground.
God
performed a miracle for Joshua, just as he had done for Moses, by parting the
Red Sea.
A Strange Miracle
God
had a strange plan for the battle of Jericho.
He told Joshua to have the
armed men march around the city once each day, for six days. The priests were
to carry the ark, blowing trumpets, but the soldiers were to keep silent.
On the seventh day, the
assembly marched around the walls of Jericho seven times.
Joshua told them that by
God's order, every living thing in the city must be destroyed, except Rahab and
her family.
All articles of silver, gold,
bronze, and iron were to go into the Lord's treasury.
At Joshua's command, the men
gave a great shout, and Jericho's walls fell down flat!
The Israelite army rushed in
and conquered the city. Only Rahab and her family were spared.
Lessons From the Battle of
Jericho Story
Joshua
felt unqualified for the monumental task of taking over for Moses, but God
promised to be with him every step of the way, just as he had been for Moses.
This same God is with us
today, protecting and guiding us.
Rahab the prostitute made the
right choice. She went with God, instead of the evil people of Jericho.
Joshua
spared Rahab and her family in the battle of Jericho.
In
the New Testament, we learn that God favored Rahab by making her one of the
ancestors of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World.
Rahab
is named in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus as the mother of Boaz and
great-grandmother of King David.
Although
she'll forever bear the label "Rahab the harlot," her involvement in
this story declares God's peculiar grace and life-transforming power.
Joshua's strict obedience to
God is a key lesson from this story.
At every turn, Joshua did
exactly as he was told and the Israelites prospered under his leadership.
An ongoing theme in the Old
Testament is that when the Jews obeyed God, they did well. When they disobeyed,
the consequences were bad.
The same is true for us
today.
As Moses' apprentice, Joshua
learned firsthand that he wouldn't always understand God's ways.
Human
nature sometimes made Joshua want to question God's plans, but instead he chose
to obey and watch what happened.
Joshua
is an excellent example of humility before God.
Questions for Reflection
Joshua's
strong faith in God led him to obey, no matter how illogical God's command
might be.
Joshua also drew from the
past, remembering the impossible deeds God had accomplished through Moses.
Do you trust God with your
life? Have you forgotten how he brought you through past troubles?
God has not changed and he
never will. He promises to be with you wherever you go.
Jack Zavada is a lifelong Christian who has been
writing about the faith for several years. He is fascinated by the diversity of
Christianity and works to make that information available in a clear, inviting
way.
Experience
Jack's articles have appeared in Liguorian magazine
and The Upper Room, a publication translated into 44 languages.
Dozens of his devotional pieces appear on christianity.about.com.
Over his 35-year writing career, Jack often has
had to convey complicated material into succinct, understandable terms. He has
served as a newspaper reporter, technical editor for the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, publications editor for a utility company, and communications
director for a national nonprofit organization.
Jack is the author of four published western
novels: Rebel Town, The Wolfer, Penwhistle's Prize, and West
of the Pecos. His website, inspiration-for-singles.com, launched in 2005, receives
visitors from more than 165 countries.
Jack holds bachelor's and master's degrees in
English from Illinois State University. His hobbies include bluegrass music and
taking care of his dog, a mixed breed Terrier named Buddy.
Jack is single, lives in Streator, Illinois, and
is a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.
Jack Zavada
"Christianity is the driving force in my
life. I've been the victim of cancer twice, job layoffs, and broken
relationships, and my faith has always been the constant force that pulled me
through. Eventually we all reach the point where we ask serious questions about
life. I firmly believe Christianity has the answers we're seeking. When people
come looking for information on this site, I hope to help them find it quickly
and in a way that applies to their lives. I feel privileged to help the Guide
here explain the many facets of the Christian faith."
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