The Walls of Jericho

Have you ever seen a really big wall? Long ago, there was a city called Jericho, with walls so tall and thick that it seemed nobody could ever get in.

The gates of Jericho were shut up tight. Nobody went out, and nobody came in. Outside the city were God's people, the Israelites. God had promised to give them this land, and their leader was a man named Joshua. God had told Joshua, "Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid. Don't be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Inside Jericho lived a woman named Rahab. She had bravely hidden two of Joshua's spies, so they promised to keep her and her family safe. She tied a bright red cord in her window, so God's people would know which house was hers.

But how could anyone get past those enormous walls? Then the Lord told Joshua his plan. And it was a very surprising plan! It didn't need ladders or ropes. It needed marching, trumpets, and one great big shout. For six days, the soldiers would march around the city, once each day.

Seven priests would carry trumpets made from rams' horns. They would walk in front of the ark of the covenant, the special golden chest that showed God was with his people. Then, on the seventh day, they would march around the city seven times. The priests would blow a long blast on their trumpets, and all the people would shout. And then, God said, the wall of the city would fall down flat! Joshua told the people the plan, and he gave them one more rule. No shouting and no talking, not a single word, until he told them to shout!

Can you imagine walking all the way around a city without saying anything at all? Not even a whisper?

On the first day, they marched. Soldiers went first, then the priests with their trumpets, then the ark, and then more soldiers behind. The only sounds were the trumpets, the tramp, tramp, tramp of feet, and the wind blowing across the plain. Once around the city, and then back to camp. Maybe the people of Jericho peeked over their walls and wondered what in the world those people were doing.

On the second day, they did it again. And on the third day, and the fourth, and the fifth, and the sixth. Day after day, the walls stood just as tall as before. But Joshua and the people kept trusting God, and they kept on marching.

On the seventh day, they got up very early, just as the sun was rising. Around the city they marched, once, twice, three times. Four times, five times, six times, and then, seven! The priests lifted their trumpets and blew a long, loud blast.

And Joshua called out to the people, "Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!" So the people shouted a great big shout, as loud as they possibly could. And then, rumble, rumble, crash! The great walls of Jericho fell down flat!

God's people went straight up into the city, every one of them, just as God had said. Jericho was theirs. And Joshua kept his promise to Rahab. She and her whole family were brought out safely, and she lived among God's people from then on. So the Lord was with Joshua, and everyone in the land heard about it.

This story teaches us to be strong and brave, because God is with us wherever we go. Even when God's way seems surprising, we can trust him and keep going, one step at a time.