Mission Impossible IIMission Impossible IIThe Conquest of JerichoThe Conquest of Jericho

Joshua 5:13 - 6:21Joshua 5:13 - 6:21

““I can’t see I can’t see why you are why you are

making such a making such a big issue out of big issue out of this; this; just get just get three quotes three quotes and fix the and fix the

wall.wall.””

• study of study of 413413 “famous and “famous and exceptionally exceptionally gifted people” gifted people”

• 392392 had to had to overcome very overcome very difficult difficult obstacles in obstacles in order to become order to become who they werewho they were

3 P’s3 P’s

• Israel had a Israel had a ProblemProblem (6:1) (6:1)

• Israel had a Israel had a PromisePromise (6:2) (6:2)

• Israel had a Israel had a PlanPlan of attack (6:3-21) of attack (6:3-21)

Israel had a Israel had a ProblemProblem• ““Jericho was tightly shut Jericho was tightly shut

up because of the up because of the Israelites. No one went Israelites. No one went out and no one came out and no one came in.”in.” Joshua 6:1Joshua 6:1

• Outer wall was about 6ft Outer wall was about 6ft thick and 20ft high thick and 20ft high

• Inner wall was 12ft thick Inner wall was 12ft thick and 30 ft highand 30 ft high

• Between the walls was a Between the walls was a 15ft guarded walkway15ft guarded walkway

Israel had a Israel had a ProblemProblem

How to attack a walled city:How to attack a walled city:

1.1. Go over the wall with laddersGo over the wall with ladders

2.2. Dig a tunnel underneath the wallDig a tunnel underneath the wall

3.3. Smash a Hole in the wall with a Smash a Hole in the wall with a battering rambattering ram

4.4. Put a siege on the city and starve Put a siege on the city and starve them outthem out

5.5. Deception such as the Trojan HorseDeception such as the Trojan Horse

Israel had a Israel had a PromisePromise

• ““Now when Joshua was near Now when Joshua was near Jericho he looked up and saw a man Jericho he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand.” drawn sword in his hand.”

Joshua 5:13Joshua 5:13

• ““Neither, but as Commander of the Neither, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” army of the Lord I have now come.”

Joshua 5:14Joshua 5:14

Israel had a Israel had a PromisePromise• ““See, I have delivered Jericho into your See, I have delivered Jericho into your

hands, along with its king and its hands, along with its king and its fighting men...”fighting men...”

Joshua 6:2Joshua 6:2

• ““For the weapons of our warfare are For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God, for not carnal but mighty in God, for pulling down strongholds, casting pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 10:4-52 Corinthians 10:4-5

Israel had a Israel had a PromisePromise

• Promise of ongoing victory – “But Promise of ongoing victory – “But thanks be to God who gives us the thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Christ.”

I Corinthians 15:57 I Corinthians 15:57

• Promise that we will never fight alone Promise that we will never fight alone – “…..I am with you always, even unto – “…..I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.”the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:20Matthew 28:20

Israel had a Israel had a PlanPlan"Yet another way of working is to begin with God; to ask begin with God; to ask

His plans, and to offer His plans, and to offer ourselves to Him to carry ourselves to Him to carry

out His purposesout His purposes..""

Israel had a Israel had a PlanPlan• God’s plan was for Israel’s soldiers to God’s plan was for Israel’s soldiers to

march around the city of Jericho following march around the city of Jericho following the Ark and the Ark and seven priestsseven priests who were to who were to blow blow seven trumpetsseven trumpets led the Ark. The led the Ark. The people were to say nothing during the people were to say nothing during the entire journey around the city! When they entire journey around the city! When they finished walking around the city -- they finished walking around the city -- they went back to camp! They did the same went back to camp! They did the same thing for six straight days. On the thing for six straight days. On the seventh dayseventh day they were to march around they were to march around the city the city seven timesseven times. At the completion of . At the completion of the the seventh lapseventh lap they were to blow the horn they were to blow the horn and all the people would shout! (6:3-5) and all the people would shout! (6:3-5)

Israel had a Israel had a PlanPlan

• SilenceSilence before the Lord. (6:10) before the Lord. (6:10)

• Seven Day MarchSeven Day March of of unquestioned and continued unquestioned and continued obedience (6:3-15)obedience (6:3-15)

• ShoutShout of Victory of Victory (6:16, 20-21)(6:16, 20-21)

SilenceSilence before the Lord (6:10) before the Lord (6:10)

• Joshua commanded the people, "Do Joshua commanded the people, "Do not give a war cry, do not raise your not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!" tell you to shout. Then shout!"

Joshua 6:10Joshua 6:10

• Moses said, Moses said, "The Lord will fight for "The Lord will fight for you; and you shall hold your peace."you; and you shall hold your peace."

Exodus 14:14 Exodus 14:14

SilenceSilence before the Lord (6:10) before the Lord (6:10)

• "Be still [hush up! listen!] and know "Be still [hush up! listen!] and know that I am God." that I am God."

Psalm 46:10 Psalm 46:10

• "To draw near [to God] and listen is "To draw near [to God] and listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of better than to offer the sacrifice of fools." fools."

Ecclesiastes 5:1 Ecclesiastes 5:1

SilenceSilence before the Lord (6:10) before the Lord (6:10)• "The heart of the discerning acquires "The heart of the discerning acquires

knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out." out."

Proverbs 18:15 Proverbs 18:15

• "Every one who hears these words of "Every one who hears these words of Mine is like a wise man who built his Mine is like a wise man who built his house on a rock." house on a rock."

Matthew 7:24-25Matthew 7:24-25

• "Consider carefully how you listen." "Consider carefully how you listen." Luke 8:18 Luke 8:18

"The voice speaks to you

all the time. You just fail to listen."

- Joan of Arc

Erik Weihenmayer

Seven Day MarchSeven Day March of unquestioned of unquestioned and continued obedience (6:3-15)and continued obedience (6:3-15)

• ””Abraham - called to go to a place he Abraham - called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance would later receive as his inheritance obeyed and went even though he did obeyed and went even though he did know where he was going... ”know where he was going... ”

Hebrews 11:8Hebrews 11:8• "were still living [and obeying] by faith "were still living [and obeying] by faith

when they died [even though] they did when they died [even though] they did not receive the things promised.“not receive the things promised.“

Hebrews 11:13Hebrews 11:13

“many people don't see the answers to

their prayers simply because they have stopped one round

short in their conquest of their

personal Jericho.”

– Dr Alan Redpath

Lee TrevinoLee Trevino

"Christian discipleship is

a long obedience in

the same direction."

- Eugene Peterson

ShoutShout of Victory of Victory

““The seventh time around, as the The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the their horns, Joshua commanded the people, “people, “Shout!Shout! For the Lord has For the Lord has given you the city!” given you the city!”

Joshua 6:16Joshua 6:16

ShoutShout of Victory of Victory (6:16, 20-21)(6:16, 20-21)

"The city's wall do appear to have collapsed "The city's wall do appear to have collapsed suddenly and the blackened timbers and suddenly and the blackened timbers and stones, as well as a layer of soot dating to stones, as well as a layer of soot dating to 1400 B.C., .all suggest that the city burned, as 1400 B.C., .all suggest that the city burned, as the Bible says it did. Archaeologist Kathleen the Bible says it did. Archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon also found bushels of grain on the Kenyon also found bushels of grain on the site, .consistent with the Bible's account of a site, .consistent with the Bible's account of a springtime conquest so rapid that Jericho's springtime conquest so rapid that Jericho's besieged populace had not exhausted their besieged populace had not exhausted their food." food."

U.S. News and World Report Oct 1991U.S. News and World Report Oct 1991