Jericho & Salvation

In Joshua 6 the people of Israel approached the fortress city of Jericho. It is a story popular in kids’ bible classes on account of the dramatic buildup to and conclusion of the battle, wherein after 7 days of the Israelite army orbiting the city the wall of Jericho falls flat, and anything falling flat is can’t-miss bible class material! (Don’t believe me? Build a castle out of wooden blocks near a small child and just wait.)

Most discussions concerning Joshua 6 & the conquest of Jericho center on the obstacles in our lives and depending on God’s help and guidance to overcome them. While this is a valid application, perhaps the account of the Israelites and Jericho can serve to instruct us on a more basic, but far more serious level. The story of Jericho tells us about the necessity of salvation, gives us a clear picture of faith, and provides the proper perspective on obedience to God.

Jericho was Closed to Israel

First, consider that the city of Jericho wasn’t exactly open for business: “Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in.” (Joshua 6.1)

Bryant Wood, in writing about the wall in March of 1999, had this to say: “The mound, or “tell” of Jericho was surrounded by a great earthen rampart, or embankment, with a stone retaining wall at its base. The retaining wall was some four to five meters (12–15 feet) high. On top of that was a mudbrick wall two meters (six feet) thick and about six to eight meters (20–26 feet) high… Humanly speaking, it was impossible for the Israelites to penetrate the impregnable bastion of Jericho.” Short story long, no invading army is getting in anytime soon.

Compare this to the plight of the sinner before God. We all have sinned (Romans 3.23), separating ourselves from God and condemning ourselves to death: “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6.23). It is a state that we cannot remedy by ourselves, despite our best efforts and intentions. The walls of Jericho cannot hold a candle to the great barrier that separates sinful mankind from Almighty God (Isa. 59.2). If the Israelites were to have any hope of victory, God would have to provide it for them. To a greater degree, if sinful mankind were to ever be cleansed of their sins and return to God’s presence, God would have to provide it for them.

God Gave Jericho to Israel

Second, notice the statement made by the commander of God’s armies to Joshua: “And the LORD said to Joshua, ‘See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.’” (Joshua 6.2). Did you catch the odd tense of that statement? Not “the LORD will give you Jericho”, but “I have given Jericho into your hand”. God speaks of Joshua’s being given the city prior to it being given. This is an important detail: There was to be no exchange of Joshua’s obedience for the victory here. God assured Joshua of victory before the battle ever started.

What had Joshua done to earn such a victory? Nothing. Was it the great righteousness of the nation of Israel that forced God’s hand to provide this as their due? Of course not. God gave Joshua (and Israel) victory without works of merit or an exchange of some sort.

In the very same way, God has given us salvation through the gift of His Son Jesus. Jesus Christ came and died for us without our deserving it or being able to earn it. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— (Eph. 2.4-5) It is because of God’s love, not anything mankind has done, that Jesus Christ came to this world. (John 3.16) We have been saved by the grace of God, but this salvation is only available through the avenue of faith (Eph. 2.8).

God Gave Joshua Instructions to Follow

Third, God instructed Joshua in Joshua 6.3-5 to march around the city once for 6 days, and then 7 times on the 7th day, after which they would blow trumpets and the people would shout. It is at this point that the wall would fall flat before them, and the city would be rendered defenseless. In v.20 we find that the city wasn’t given to Israel until they had completed the 7th lap and shouted. It was at that exact point of obeying all of God’s commands that the wall fell, and the city was conquered. Remember that God had already given Jericho into the hand of Joshua (v.2), and yet he was given instructions on what to do to conquer Jericho. The wall of Jericho did not fall, allowing the Israelites to enter the city, until every single instruction given to Joshua was obeyed. This is why Hebrews 11.30 reads: “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.”

If Joshua was already promised victory by God, why didn’t he simply just walk into the front gate of Jericho? Why didn’t the walls fall at the point of Joshua’s belief that God had granted him victory? Because biblical faith is more than belief alone.

Biblical faith extends beyond belief and is only completed at the point of obedience to God’s commands. Some will point to passages such as Eph. 2.8-9 to make the point that we are saved by faith, apart from works. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” This passage properly rejects man’s attempt to earn their salvation by works (which is impossible), but it does not exclude man’s obedience to God’s commands (which is demanded)! The example of Abraham demonstrates this perfectly in James 2.20-23: Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God.”

The Wall Fell by God’s Hand

The people marched all seven days. The people were silent for the first six days and then on the seventh shouted. The priests carried the Ark of the Covenant and blew the rams’ horns at the appropriate time. The people did everything they were instructed to do. So, did the people strike the wall down? Of course they didn’t. God did. “And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, ‘Shout, for the LORD has given you the city.’” (Joshua 6.16)

This greatly helps us to keep the proper perspective of obedience and salvation. God has told us how we may enter the covenant relationship with Him through the blood of Jesus Christ. This is clearly given in the book of Acts: Those who entered God’s kingdom heard the message of the gospel, and instructed to believe and confess that Jesus was the Christ (Acts 8.37), repent of their sins, and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2.38). Those who followed the instructions given were added to the kingdom of God (Acts 2.47, Col. 1.13).

Following God’s commands for us to reach salvation does not mean that we earn it, or that we accomplish it by our great power. We cannot earn something so precious as eternal life, nor can we give anything we have to redeem our souls. (Mark 8.37) But acknowledging that God’s promise of salvation and his free gift of Jesus Christ does not excuse us from following the commands He has given us either. Remember: The wall of Jericho didn’t fall on days 1-6. It fell after Israel’s obedience on day 7, by God’s power.

Conclusion

Jesus lived and died so that we need not pay the penalty for our sins. That gift was given freely yet is only accessed through obedience to God. The destruction of the wall of Jericho pales in comparison to the gift of Jesus Christ, and the great power and love God demonstrated in the grace He has shown to us.

Take care that your life is not lived despite this great gift. “Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?” (Heb. 10.28-29)