5 Lessons from the Story of Joshua and the Walls of Jericho

1. Faith involves following the Lord.

When we think of the Battle of Jericho, we often skip the account of Joshua’s vision of an angel. We focus more on the march around the walls and the battle cry at the end. Yet it is an angel that provides instructions on how Israel will overtake the city. We read about this in Joshua 5. This interaction between Joshua and the commander of the Lord’s army is unique and instructive. Scripture records that Joshua asks, “are you for us or for our enemies.”  Curiously, the angel responds “Neither.” (5:14)

This is an important scene because it can be far too easy for us to assume that the Lord is on our side, as opposed to the side of others. If we believe that the Lord thinks about everything (and everyone!) exactly as we do, we can too easily see the world in an 'us vs them' mentality. We may even begin to believe that God’s role in our lives is to justify our causes and concerns. We lead, God follows.

When the angel responds “neither” a deep truth is communicated about Israel’s position before the Lord. The Lord was not present to serve the wishes of Israel. Rather, Israel is called to follow the way of the Lord. To overtake Jericho, Israel had to acknowledge that God fought for them. There was simply no possible way that the odd-ball strategy could ever provide the victory otherwise. 

There are times in our lives where God’s interaction with us may appear random or nonsensical. God continually pushes us past our logical schemes and machinations to move us to a place of humble trust. This is done so that we can learn the art of dependence on God. It is within this place of faithful dependence that we experience the victory that is wrought, not by our management, but by his own hand upon our lives. The likes of victory, freedom, and redemption are found not through our own leading, but by following the way of the Lord. God leads. We follow. This is the way of faith.

2. The power of worship.

The daily march around the city must have looked odd for the inhabitants of Jericho. More to the point, it must have felt odd for the warriors of Israel! The point of marching around the city was not to show the strength or might of the nation. The whole point of marching around the walls of Jericho was to show Israel’s faithfulness to God through an act of worship. Scripture records that “seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant followed them” (Joshua 6:8). The procession around the walls of Jericho was a procession of worship more than a procession of military might.

There is something profound about responding to the challenges of our lives, not with an act of vehement defiance or shaking of the fist, but with an act of worship. Worship places us in the appropriate disposition before our Lord. We look to the Lord’s strength not our own. In worship, we recognize that the Lord alone provides the way forward. In the end, our life with God is paved not through the execution of our battle-plans, but through the bowing of our knees in humble adoration to the one who created us, redeems us, and constantly sustains us.

3. The power of silence.

Joshua instructs the people to make no battle cry as they travel around the city. From the viewpoint of military strategy, this would have appeared odd. Battle cries were understood to be an important element in obtaining victory over one’s enemies. The more fearsome your cry the more intimidating you appeared to your opponent. Conversely, silence in the face of an upcoming battle would only show weakness and fright. 

So why did the Lord instruct silence? Obviously, a deeper meaning is being conveyed. Silence does two things. Silence allows us to listen to the voice of the Lord who goes before us. Israel marched in silence to acknowledge the Lord who went before them. In silence, Israel marched in an attitude of faith. The battle would not be won by their shouts but by listening to the voice of the Lord.

Silence is also an indication that one is in the presence of someone greater. It is a position of humility. Silence is the internal act of bowing our spirit before the Lord in service and adoration. In silence, we offer the Lord the fullness of our attention and our lives. Thus, Israel marched in silence, to show that their life in the Promised Land was rooted in an acknowledgment of the Lord. 

We live in a world of a myriad of voices, all of which vie for our attention and allegiance. When we fill our lives with too much noise, we essentially rob ourselves of the opportunity to experience God’s power and presence. Thus, it is important that we cultivate the habit of silence through which we allow God’s voice to direct us.

4. Faith means perseverance.

The Battle of Jericho was not a one-day affair. Israel was instructed to march around the city for seven days. Furthermore, on the seventh day, Israel had to walk around the city seven times. Again, and again, and again, Israel journeyed around the city trusting that, eventually, God would bring the walls down. Israel had to persevere. 

Too easily today, faith gets set aside in favor of that which is quick or convenient. After all, we live in a world of instant gratification. Yet Jericho was not taken in a day. We see the call to perseverance throughout all of scripture. God’s work often occurs over a span of time. 

There is no opportunity to grow if God’s plan was always revealed at the snap of a finger. More importantly, nor would there be any opportunity to join in what God is doing. Israel’s march around the walls of Jericho gave Israel the time they needed to exercise the fullness of their faith. The marches also gave Israel the ability to anticipate their involvement in God’s victory over Jericho. 

The same is true in our lives. Our life with God is one of trust and perseverance. When we are in the position of waiting, we must remember that this gives us the ability to grow in our faith. Furthermore, perseverance opens the door to our participation in what the Lord will do in our midst.

5. Recognizing the larger story of redemption.

Prior to the battle at Jericho, we read that Joshua sends spies to sus out the city’s military capability. On this trip, the spies meet Rahab the prostitute, who, in a seemingly strange act of faithfulness to Yahweh, aids the spies in the promise that she will be spared. Indeed, this is what occurs. After the defeat of Jericho, Joshua commands the spies to return to Rahab’s house and rescue her and her family. This is the last we read about Rahab.

This is not, however, the last time Rahab is mentioned in Scripture. Scripture makes abundantly clear that Rahab becomes the mother of Boaz, who later marries Ruth. This makes Rahab the great, great, great grandmother of King David and an important figure in the lineage of Jesus. In fact, Matthew takes particular care to mention Rahab within the lineage of Jesus’ ancestry (Matthew 1:5).

What does this tell us? Our individual battles are part of the larger story of redemption. God weaves together that which is beyond the scope of accomplishment and merit to fully establish God’s glorious kingdom on earth. God’s ways are not based on merit or deserving, strength, or prowess. God’s kingdom is established through the way of grace, and in grace, we participate in the larger arc of God’s redemptive work. Rahab’s place in the lineage of Jesus shows us that our individual lives are important elements in God’s salvation plan.

Like every story in Scripture, the Battle of Jericho lends itself to multiple lessons. We can never exhaust the truths that God reveals through the pages of Scripture. So, I invite you to take the time needed and read the opening chapters of the book of Joshua. Read through the story of Jericho and see what other truths Lord has for you.