HEBREWS CHAPTER ELEVEN (part seven)
As we continue our study of Hebrews chapter eleven, we are going to look at the record of the
destruction of Jericho.
Hebrews 11:30 (KJV)
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
At this point in history Moses had died and Joshua, Moses understudy, was leading Israel. Joshua was a
good man and appointed to lead Israel by God. Joshua loved Moses and when Moses died all Israel
including Joshua mourned for forty days. It is funny because nowadays somebody dies and they are
buried and we are back to our daily routines within a week. Not so back then. As a matter of fact the
Children of Israel would have still be grieving if God hadn’t talked to Joshua in Joshua chapter one.
Joshua 1:1-9 (KJV)
1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake
unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people,
unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said
unto Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the
land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with
Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the
land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the
law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left,
that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and
night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt
make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou
dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
When God said “Moses my servant is dead” He was using the hardest radicals in the Hebrew
language. It would better read “Moses my servant is DEAD.” Moses is dead and there is nothing
you can do about it, Joshua! So, now it is time to get up and get moving again.
God instructs Joshua to “be strong and of a good courage,” three times and in three verses to be
courageous in keeping and doing the Word of the Lord. God, also tells Joshua three times that
He (God) is with Joshua and will not leave him. In the Bible if God tells a person something
once it could change, but, if God tells a person twice it is established and God will not change
His Mind. Here God tells Joshua three times. Wow! What compassion God has for Joshua.
So, with that, Joshua starts the Children of Israel on they way once again.Joshua 6:1-16 (KJV)
1 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none
came in.
2 And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king
thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt
thou do six days.
4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day
ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye
hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the
city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.
6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the
covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.
7 And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on
before the ark of the LORD.
8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing
the seven trumpets of rams’ horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and
the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.
9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came
after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with
your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then
shall ye shout.
People read this record and don’t see the absolute discipline and commitment that Israel had.
Over a million people not uttering a word out of their mouths for seven days. I know some
people might be able to do that today, but, over one million at one time?? I know at least two
women that can’t keep their mouths shut for an hour! And I don’t know anywhere close to a
million people.
11 So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp,
and lodged in the camp.
12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.
13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on
continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward
came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six
days.
15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city
seven times.
16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said
unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.
Those people in Jericho must have thought the Children of Israel were nuts. Go walk around the
city once and go home. Do it again the next day. For six days! The seventh day they got a big
surprise, though.
You know, when you start walking with God, He will tell you some of the strangest things to do.
But, when you do them you will see God’s deliverance.
Joshua 6:20 (KJV)
20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people
heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat,
so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
It took believing not only on the part of Joshua, but all of Israel had to believe to bring to pass the
destruction of Jericho. Now we no longer have to fight for a piece of ground because Christians have a
home in Heaven. But, our warfare is not carnal but spiritual and our God, just like with Joshua is with us
withersoever we go. All we have to do is believe God’s promises and watch them come to pass.