Joshua 6: Victory at Jericho

Introduction: The Book of Joshua Chapter 6 narrates an inspiring tale of triumph for the Israelites, led by Joshua, over the city of Jericho. This chapter highlights divine intervention, obedience, faith, and the power of worship as key elements in the Israelites’ victory. The narrative has profound theological implications that underscore God’s omnipotence and sovereignty, His desire for obedience and worship, and His promise-keeping nature.

I. God’s Omnipotence and Sovereignty (Joshua 6:1-2) God demonstrates His omnipotence and sovereignty by promising Joshua that He has given him Jericho, its king, and its fighting men even before the battle ensues. This idea is echoed in Exodus 15:3 where it is affirmed that the Lord is a warrior, and in Psalm 24:8, which refers to the Lord as mighty in battle.

II. Divine Strategy and Human Obedience (Joshua 6:3-5) In these verses, God gives Joshua a strange battle strategy: marching around the city once every day for six days, seven times on the seventh day, and then shouting. Joshua’s obedience to this seemingly odd command echoes Abraham’s obedience in Genesis 22:2-3 when he was asked to sacrifice his son. It reiterates the theological principle that God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), and underscores the importance of obedience to God’s commands (John 14:15).

III. Role of Worship and Faith (Joshua 6:8-14) The Israelites’ marching and shouting serve as acts of worship and expressions of faith in God’s promise. This suggests that worship and faith are critical to victory. Similarly, in 2 Chronicles 20:21-22, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord, and as they began to sing, the Lord set ambushes against their enemies. In the New Testament, Paul and Silas’s worship led to their miraculous release from prison (Acts 16:25-26).

IV. Rahab’s Reward (Joshua 6:22-25) God rewards Rahab’s faith and protection of the Israelite spies by sparing her and her family. This reflects the divine principle that faith and actions work together and faith without deeds is dead (James 2:22-26). It also reflects Matthew 10:42, where Jesus promises a reward to anyone who gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones.

V. Curse on Jericho’s Rebuilder (Joshua 6:26-27) Joshua pronounces a curse on anyone who rebuilds Jericho, indicating that some victories and deliverances God gives are meant to be permanent, and anyone who tries to reinstate what God has destroyed incurs a curse. This idea is similar to Galatians 2:18, where rebuilding what was previously destroyed makes one a transgressor.

Conclusion: The triumph in Joshua 6 is a distinct portrayal of divine omnipotence and sovereignty, human obedience, and the role of worship and faith in the believer’s victory. It also underscores the importance of faith combined with action, and it serves as a cautionary tale against reversing God’s deliverance. The triumph of the Israelites over Jericho inspires believers today to place their complete faith in God’s promises, obey His commands, engage in worship, and trust in His final victory over the battles in their lives. The chapter re-emphasizes the truth of 1 Corinthians 15:57: “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

You might be interested in exploring the theological implications of this story further. Speaking of “faith,” you might be interested in the Wikipedia article on faith. Additionally, to delve deeper into the concept of “divine intervention,” you might find the Wikipedia article on divine intervention enlightening. Finally, to understand more about the city of Jericho and its historical significance, you can check out the Wikipedia article on Jericho.