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 had no 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 detail in the verses that
follow. Read Joshua 6:9-10. Was it only the
priests and the armed men that 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
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on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray that the Holy
Spirit will guide your mind as you study.
