A long time ago in the promised land, there was a mighty man called Joshua
he was the leader in the army of the Israelites and was dedicated to fulfilling the word of god
the Israelites were wandering the desert for 40 years for their disobedience
and the sins they committed throughout history God has promised his people the land of Israel
after the death of Moses God chose Joshua son of nun to be the leader of the Israelite people
Joshua led his people across the land and eventually they came to the large city of Jericho
the city had high and formidable walls that nobody could climb
on top of this tall wall stood soldiers ready to attack all the time
the people living in the city didn't care about god's word at all
when Joshua and the rest of the Israelites arrived at Jericho Joshua knew that they had to come up with a plan
he ordered two spies to secretly enter the city
and try to find any information that could help the Israelites capture the city and make it their own
spies, I need you to go to Jericho and look for anything that might help us take over Jericho as God wishes
find out what you can but don't get caught alright we'll do our best and try to make sure that nobody notices us
the spies successfully made their way into Jericho and began their secret mission
luckily once they were inside the city they were helped by a kind woman named Rahab
Rahab's home was built just beside the city wall so the spies were able to use it as a lookout
from there they could see the city's defense and understood how the soldiers of Jericho were protecting the city walls
this would allow them to create a plan to fight the city guards
as the spies gathered their information Rahab hid them in the straw of her roof and kept them safe
after the spies had gotten their information and were ready to head back and tell Joshua what they had seen
Rahab asked them to remember her kindness
I know that the Lord has promised you this land
and that great destruction might come to the city of Jericho when it becomes yours
please do not forget the kindness I've shown you and how I've kept you safe
the spies were grateful for Rahab's shelter
and promised her that they would not forget the help she had shown the people of god
they told her to tie a red piece of cloth from her window
and let it hang outside for them to see that way when they took the city
they would remember where she lived and make sure that her and her family were safe
thank you and good luck
the Israelites are coming
what are we going to do the leaders of Jericho came to understand that the Israelites meant to take over the city
and knew that they must do everything in their power to prevent this
they locked down the entire city so nobody could come in and nobody could come out
with no access to the city Joshua had to come up with a plan on how they might take Jericho
even though it was surrounded by mighty stone walls
but then God came and spoke to Joshua and told him exactly what he must do to take the city
Joshua there is a way for you to take Jericho you must organize the people of Israel in this order
first the armed guards with their weapons then the priests carry the ark of the covenant
in front of the ark place seven priests blowing trumpets
and finally more soldiers and the rest of the Israelite people
and what must we do
each day you must march around the city walls in total silence for six days
only the trumpets may blow then on the seventh day march around seven times and on the seventh time
the people of Israel must let out a mighty shout and blow the trumpets once more
follow these instructions and Jericho will be yours
Joshua heard god's instructions and was determined to follow them
he gathered all of god's people and told them the plan
and so the people of Israel listen to Joshua's instructions carefully
you shall not shout or make any noise nor shall a word come from your mouth until I say to you shout
the next day they marched toward the city just like god instructed
the armed men led the march
followed by the priests with the covenant
then the priests with the trumpets
and then the rest of god's people
and so they began for six days the people of Israel marched around the walls of Jericho
nobody uttered a word and the only noise was the sound of the priests blowing their horns
the people of Jericho could see what the Israelites were doing
and could not understand what they were witnessing
but still each day they followed god's instructions to march in silence
and then finally on the seventh-day god's people marched around the city walls seven times
and on the seventh time, Joshua gave the signal
and they all let out a yell as loud as they could shout
all of god's people cried out as one and created a mighty shout that shook the air
the sound was so powerful that the city walls began to break apart and crumble
the Israelites had followed god's careful instructions and sure enough, the city of Jericho
was falling to them and so god's people made their way through the destroyed city of Jericho
as they explored the city the spy saw the red cloth hanging from a window
and remember their promise the Rahab
we have to go tell Joshua about Rahab and the promise we made to her
Rahab are you there
this is Rahab she helped us when we came to the city to look for information
she kept us safe and in return, we promised to keep her and her family safe
once we captured the city you have helped god fulfill his promises and so you will be safe
and so Rahab and her family were spared from the destruction of Jericho
and lived on safely with one another
the Israelites were now fulfilling god's prophecy that God would take them to their promised land
once Jericho fell god's people continued to make their way through the vast open desert
it was when god's people followed his instructions and cried out that the mighty walls of Jericho collapsed
Joshua and his fellow people understood that such a victory could only come from following god's instructions
and having total trust in god's word god rewarded his people's faith
by tearing down the walls of Jericho and even to this day the mighty walls of Jericho have never been rebuilt