Moses had been a great leader of God’s people. But when Moses died Joshua became the new leader. God had chosen Joshua and promised to always be with him.
God told Joshua that he was to lead the people into the land of Canaan. This was the land that God had promised to His people many years before. Now it was time for them to go and live in the land. Jericho was the first city that the people came to in the land of Canaan. It had to be captured!
Jericho was a strong city that was surrounded by high walls. How was Joshua going to capture that city? He was glad he didn’t have to figure it out all by himself. He trusted God to help him. God gave Joshua a plan. The plan sounded very strange. It wasn’t the kind of plan you or I would have thought of.
This is what God told Joshua to do. For six days Joshua was to have the people of Israel march silently around Jericho. The only sound that would be heard each day, was the sound of seven trumpets. The trumpets would be blown by seven priests. On the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times. And on the seventh time everyone was to shout when they heard the sound of the trumpets.
Joshua didn’t argue with God. He didn’t say, “This doesn’t make sense. I can think of a better plan than that!”
No, he didn’t say any of those things. He trusted God. And the people of Israel wanted to do what Joshua told them. They didn’t understand, but they knew that if God told them to do something, He would help them to do it.
I wonder what the people of Jericho thought on that first day as they watched the people of Israel march around their city? They probably wondered what was going to happen. No doubt they grew more worried as each day went by.
Day after day the people of Israel marched around Jericho. On the seventh day, the people of Jericho again heard the sound of the seven trumpets. But the people of Israel marched quietly around the city. One time. Two times. Three. Four. Five. Six. Then on the seventh time, when the priests blew their trumpets, Joshua commanded the people to shout! He said, “The Lord has given you the city!” At that moment, giant cracks appeared in those huge walls. Then, with a mighty crash, the walls fell to the ground!
Joshua and the people of Israel took over the city of Jericho. God was able to help them win the battle because Joshua trusted God and did exactly what God had told him to do.
PARENT’S CORNER
In this lesson is another dramatic event in Biblical history—the falling of the walls of Jericho. Your child will learn in class that because Joshua trusted and obeyed God, he was able to win the victory in this spectacular way.
As you talk about this with your child, explain that when we trust and obey God, we will have victory over the problems that come our way. Ask your child to list some of the problems he faces. Note each one briefly on a small piece of paper, and tape the paper to a building block.
When you have a number of blocks with problems taped to them, allow your child to build a “wall.” Show how easy it is to knock that wall over. In the same way, our problems are not too big or too difficult for God. If we trust and obey Him, He will give us the victory.