Study Questions:

1. How long did the people of Israel wander in the wilderness? Joshua 5:6

2. What happened to the generation that came out of Egypt? Joshua 5:6

3. When did the manna cease falling? Joshua 5:12

4. How many times around Jericho was the procession of Israelites supposed to march on the seventh day? Joshua 6:4

Commentary and Reflection:

The Israelites celebrated Passover in the plain of Jericho. The Passover reminded them of how the Lord had delivered them from the slavery of Egypt with a mighty hand. Now He would deliver the fortified and powerful city to them also with a mighty hand.

Joshua gazed upon the city, anticipating the difficult battle ahead. He was in prayer when he was startled by a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword. “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” Joshua asked, surprised. That “man” identified himself as the “Commander of the army of the LORD.” It was Jesus Himself who appeared to Joshua. Joshua worshiped Him. Just as Moses in the desert, Jesus said to him, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” Joshua and Israel were not alone. The Lord’s army with its Commander was there to fight the battle.

The strategy to take the city was strange. Undoubtedly, it was a test for the faith of the people and the men of war. They were not to scale the wall, they were not to attack, they were not to use their weapons, they were to only march around the city, once, twice, thrice, even six times, once a day, in silence, the priests’ trumpets sounding, the Ark behind. From above, the sentinels of Jericho watched, in the city some were frightened, and others mocked. On the seventh day, at the end of the seventh circuit around the city, the people shouted, and the stone walls fell. The people entered the city to carry out the Lord’s command. Only Rahab and those in her house were spared.

“They could not see the host of angels who attended them under the leadership of the Son of God. They might have reasoned: “What unmeaning movements are these, and how ridiculous the performance of marching daily around the walls of the city, blowing trumpets of rams’ horns. This can have no effect upon those towering fortifications.” But the very plan of continuing this ceremony through so long a time prior to the final overthrow of the walls afforded opportunity for the development of faith among the Israelites. It was to be impressed upon their minds that their strength was not in the wisdom of man, nor in his might, but only in the God of their salvation. They were thus to become accustomed to relying wholly upon their divine Leader ” PP 493

“God will do great things for those who trust in him. The reason why his professed people have no greater strength is that they trust so much to their own wisdom, and do not give the Lord an opportunity to reveal his power in their behalf. He will help his believing children in every emergency if they will place their entire confidence in him and faithfully obey him.” PP 493

What strongholds in your life need to be brought down by the power of the Lord? Seek His guidance, trust in Him, and the walls will fall.

May this be your experience today.