The Walls Came Tumbling Down
Theme: Why is Obedience Important?
God’s people had been homeless for 40 years. After they escaped Egypt, they were too scared to go back to their homeland. But when the kids grew older, they weren’t so scared anymore. They got to the edge of the river and stared across at a big city named Jericho, with HUGE walls. The people living there were mean and didn’t believe in God.
God wanted the Israelites to get their home back. But how would they get past Jericho? God said he would help them — but only if they obeyed.
Day 1 – Homeless in the Wilderness
But Get ready!
Passage
Joshua 1:1-11
10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”
Key verses: 10-11
Observations
- A long, long time ago, the Israelites had left their homeland to go to Egypt, where there was food.
- Many years passed. Boys and girls were born, got old, and died. Egypt became mean to the Israelites, and Moses led the people out of Egypt.
- They were supposed to go back to their homeland, but they were too scared.
- So the Israelites had wandered in the desert with Moses for 40 years before Moses died.
- There were no scary people in the desert to worry about.
- But it was hard to find food and water. They only had what God sent them.
- They had to eat and drink whatever God gave them. He sent something called manna — every…single…day. blah!
- They lived in tents, like they were homeless.
- God said “Hey Joshua. Now that Moses is gone, I want you to take over. And I want you to lead the people back to their homeland.”
- God instructed Joshua: “Obey all the laws that I gave to Moses.”
- “If you obey,” God said, “I’ll give you a huuuuuge country with lots of food and drink.”
- Joshua listened. He told the people to get all their stuff together and get ready. “There’s the Jordan River,” Joshua said. “We’re going across!”
Discussion
- Have you ever been camping in a tent? Did you like it?
- What if you didn’t have a house and you’d spent your entire life camping in a tent? Would you like that?
- How would like to eat the same thing every day for a whole year? And I’m not talking pizza!
- Imagine you were born in the desert when Moses lived. Your parents had been too scared to go back to their homeland because of the big cities and the mean people. When you grew up, and you became the mom and dad, would you be too scared too? Or would you trust God?
Day 2 – Joshua’s Spies are Almost Caught
Passage
Joshua 2:1-14
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
Key verses: 8-11
Observations
- Joshua wanted to know what he was getting himself into. So he sent two spies ahead, telling them: “Go, look over the land—especially Jericho.”
- They were supposed to sneak in and find out information about Jericho.
- But somebody noticed them, and reported them to the king of Jericho.
- They hid in the house of a woman named Rahab.
- Rahab lived in Jericho.
- She had committed lots of sins. Like think how many sins you’ve committed, and add a gazillion to it.
- When the king came looking, did she turn in the spies?
- No! She hid them on her roof under some stacks of food, and tricked the king’s men.
- The spies asked her why she helped.
- Even though she was a sinner, she said that she believed in their Lord.
- “I know the Lord has given you your homeland back. I know Jericho is going to fall into your hands.”
- She had heard about how Moses brought them out of Egypt.
- “The people are melting in fear of the Israelites,” she told them.
- The spies promised to spare her life when they invaded Jericho.
- She was sorry for her sins, and believed in God.
- God promised to save her because she had changed.
Discussion
- If you were Rahab, would you have turned in the spies to the king of Jericho?
- Why did Rahab believe in the God of Israel?
- If God can forgive Rahab’s sins, what does that mean about you? Do your parents forgive you when are sorry for doing something wrong?
Day 3 – God’s Crazy Plan
Passage
Joshua 6:1-5
3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
Key verses: 3-5
Observations
- God said to Joshua: “I have given Jericho into your hands.”
- Joshua thought, “Okay, God, I believe you, but how? They city walls are so big! And thick! And they’ve locked the gates. They certainly won’t let us put ladders against the walls and climb up.”
- God said “I got this. Here’s the plan…”
- Step 1 – Get all the troops together, along with all the priests. Get in a line, and march in a circle around the city one time.
- Have the priests blow their trumpets as you march.
- Do NOT give a war cry. Everyone else is quiet.
- Then go back for the night.
- Step 2 – Do this for five more days. A total of six days.
- Step 3 – On day seven, march around the walls seven times instead of once.
- Step 4 – On the last time around, make all the noise you can! Scream, shout, and play trumpets!
- Step 5 – The walls will all fall down, and you can run in with your swords and overtake the city.
- But don’t forget to spare Rahab and her family!
- Step 1 – Get all the troops together, along with all the priests. Get in a line, and march in a circle around the city one time.
Tomorrow, we find out if they did this. Do you think it would work?
Discussion
- Imagine you saw those big walls. You look up, and they are taller than your entire family if you stood on each others’ shoulders. And they were just as thick as they were tall!
- If you were Joshua before God told you what to do, how would be planning to attack Jericho?
- What would you think of this crazy plan when God tells you?
- Why did God give them these instructions, do you think? (he wanted them to demonstrate obedience)
Day 4 – God Knocks Down the Walls!
Passage
Joshua 6:6-20
20 When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.
Key verse: 20
Observations
- Joshua and the people followed God’s crazy plan perfectly.
- On the 7th time around, on the 7th day, they shouted with all their might.
- The walls came tumbling down!
- They soldiers raced in and took over the city. But they spared Rahab and family.
Discussion
- March around the table 6 times quietly. On the 7th trip, shout out loud and attack Mom with hugs!
- If you don’t understand why your parents tell you something, is it hard to obey?
- Did the Israelites understand why God told them to do those marches?
- Joshua obeyed God. The Israelites also obeyed God. Would the walls have fallen if they hadn’t obeyed?
Bible study methodology adapted from Searching the Scriptures with permission from Tyndale House:
Swindoll, Charles, Searching the Scriptures. Tyndale House Publishers, 2016.
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