15On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times.
16The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, "Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!
17The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent.
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18But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it.
19All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury."
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21They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.- P104
22Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, "Go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her."
23So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel.
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25But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.- P104
On the seventh day, the Israelites march around Jericho seven times. Thepriests blow the trumpets, Joshua commands the people to shout, and thewalls collapse. They destroy everything in the city but make sure to save Rahaband her family. The city is burned and its valuables go to the Lord‘s treasury.
Joshua pronounces a curse on anyone who rebuilds Jericho.- P105
Israel’s victory over Jericho reminds us that there is no obstacle too great for God. Led by Joshua, who receives explicit instructions from the Lord, the people follow the word given to them. They faithfully circle the city for seven days, with the seventh day requiring the much longer task of marching around the immense city seven times. The soldiers remain silent until the priests sound the trumpet blast, and the thousands of men shout with faith knowing that the Lord has given them the city. - P106
Sometimes, we may feel like an impenetrable wall is before us. However, as we trust in God’s leadership and purpose in our lives, we can step out in obedience and faith, expecting walls to fall down before us.- P106
In this passage, we see the faith and faithfulness of several people. Joshuaprompts the two spies to keep their promise to Rahab, saving not only herbut also her entire family. Rahab herself risks everything based on her beliefthat Israel‘s God is Lord of all. - P106
From the perspective of her countrymen, shecan only be seen as a scandalous traitor, but she places her faith in the Godof Israel above her allegiance to Jericho. - P106
Joshua demonstrates his faithfulnessin leading the people to victory, and he curses anyone who tries to rebuildthe city that God has destroyed. Such examples show us both the challengesand rewards of faith and faithfulness to God.- P106
It was clear tto everyone in Canaanthat Israel‘s army did not win because they had the strongest soldiers or thebest military strategy; it was by Israel‘s obedience to God‘s plan that theyachieved victory,
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In our own lives, we can be tempted to take matters into our own hands.
We can forget that we are not truly our own, for we did not create ourselves.
We may make plans and put in our human effort, but it is God‘s hand andHis ways that will reign supreme. Of course, it is helpful to have goals andtake practical steps toward achieving them. - P107
However, it is important toremember that we should consistently and prayerfully surrender our plansto God. We should ensure that they align with His plan for us. We can askfor the Holy Spirit to steer us in the right direction when we are veering farfrom Him. - P107
When we acknowledge that He knows what is best, we showthat the only plans worth doing are those that align with God‘s will for ourlives.- P107
Lord Jesus, thank you that there is no obstacle too great for You. I ask that You strengthen my faith so that I can resist temptations and pressures and focus on the rewards of faithfulness to You. In Your name I pray, amen.- P107
