Scripture Text: Joshua 5:13-8:35
Memory Verse: “So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.” Joshua 6:20
Introduction:
The conquest of Canaan was accomplished by three military campaigns—central, southern, and northern. The central campaign, designed to divide and conquer, consisted of two major engagements, one at Jericho and the other at Ai. Jericho was a fortified city with high walls and gates located over 800 feet below sea level. The city was not only low topographically but was low morally. It was doomed because it stood on God’s land and its rightful tenants had come to claim it.
Fear of the Israelites had caused Jericho to be barricaded before the invaders arrived. For six days the Israelites marched around the city, once each day, returning at night to Gilgal. On the seventh day they marched around it seven times. When the priests blew the rams’ horns, the Israelites let out a great shout. The walls fell down flat, and the people of God were able to enter the city. Everything in the city was doomed by the Lord to destruction as the firstfruits of Canaan. The inhabitants and the livestock were to be destroyed, but the silver, gold, bronze, and iron were to be put into the treasury of the Lord.
Even though the people had crossed the Jordan, they were still prone to sin. When Joshua sent spies to Ai, they returned with the confident report that the city was poorly defended and that it would not be necessary to send more than two or three thousand soldiers against it. But when an army of about three thousand men marched on Ai, they met defeat rather than victory. Joshua learned that the defeat was caused by Achan’s looting. As punishment for his crime, Achan and his household were stoned to death and then burned. On the second attempt, Joshua and his army captured Ai by the strategy of ambush. Israel lost thirty-six men in the first battle; this time they lost none.
Studying the Word
Lesson Study
- When we are faced with the struggles of life, what does Joshua’s experience teach us about God’s help in time of need? (Joshua 5:14-6:2; Acts 12:5-11; 18:9-10; 23:11; John 14:16-23)
- Why did God want all living things in Jericho destroyed? (Joshua 6:21; Deuteronomy 13:16; Jeremiah 18:6-7; 45:4; Matthew 10:28; Luke 13:3)
- What happens when there is serious sin or the toleration of serious sin among God’s people? (Joshua 7:1- 26; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Psalms 119:162; Genesis 3:6)
- What lessons can we learn from the people’s failures in the book of Joshua and their future to encourage us today? (Joshua 8:1-29; Psalms 37:23-24; 1 John 1:8-10)
Applying the Word
The episode of building an altar and reading the law reveals four principles for understanding the book of Joshua. How can we apply these principles to our Christian walk with God? (Joshua 8:30-35)
- The right to possess the promised land was dependent on the loyalty to God’s covenant. (Deuteronomy 30:15-18)
- Israel’s access to God was always by faith through sacrifice and blood atonement. (Joshua 8:30-31)
- The continuance of God’s blessings was dependent on their holding firmly to Him with heart-felt faith and love. Faith in God’s promises as embodied in the altar, blood atonement and the commandments was essential in maintaining a covenant relationship with God. (Deuteronomy 29:18-21)
The written Word of God was the ultimate authority for His people and the basis upon which they experienced either His blessing or curse. (Joshua 8:31-32; Matthew 7:24-27)