Joshua and the walls of Jericho Bible Story

Our topic today "Joshua and the walls of Jericho Bible Story" is one of the most thrilling tales from the Bible. Imagine being in front of a huge, strong wall that you can't climb over, break through, or dig under.

Now, imagine that wall falling down all by itself because you and your friends marched around it, blowing trumpets and shouting. Sounds like something out of a superhero movie, right?

Well, this actually happened to Joshua and his people, and it shows us how bravery, faith, and following instructions can lead to amazing results.

See also: Tower of Babel

Joshua and the walls of Jericho Bible Story

The Mission Given to Joshua

Joshua was chosen to lead his people, the Israelites, into the Promised Land, a place where they could finally live in peace and happiness. But there was a big obstacle in their way: the city of Jericho, with walls so tall and strong, nobody thought they could be defeated. God gave Joshua a very special plan to conquer these walls, which seemed impossible at first.

The Plan from God

He told Joshua to have his soldiers, priests, and the Ark of the Covenant march around the city once every day for six days. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times. Then, with a long blast on their trumpets, everyone was to shout as loud as they could.

The Walls Come Tumbling Down

Joshua followed God's instructions exactly. On the seventh day, after marching around Jericho for the seventh time and blowing the trumpets, Joshua commanded the people to shout. And guess what? The walls of Jericho fell down flat! The Israelites were able to take the city, just as God had promised.

Lessons Learned from the Story

Faith in Following Instructions

This story teaches us about the power of faith and obedience. Even when God's instructions seem unusual or difficult to understand, following them can lead to incredible things.

Courage to Face Big Challenges

Joshua and his people showed great courage. Facing a giant wall and a strong city, they trusted God and won. This teaches us that no matter how big our problems seem, we can overcome them with faith and courage.

The Power of Teamwork

The Israelites worked together, following God's plan. This story shows us how teamwork and cooperation can help us achieve what seems impossible.

Joshua and the walls of Jericho Bible Verses

• Joshua 6:1-5 (NIV): "Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the Lord said to Joshua, 'See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 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. 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.'"
• Joshua 6:15-16 (NIV): "On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, 'Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!'"
• Joshua 6:20 (NIV): "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."

Joshua and the walls of Jericho Coloring Pages

Joshua and the walls of Jericho Activities

Creating engaging activities based on the story of Joshua and the Walls of Jericho can help children understand and remember this powerful biblical lesson. Here are some activities that can be both fun and educational:

1. Marching and Shouting Game

Objective: To recreate the march around Jericho in a fun way.

How to Play:

• Set up an area to represent the walls of Jericho. Use blocks or boxes to create a wall that can be easily knocked down.
• Have the children march around the "walls" seven times while playing trumpets (toy trumpets or homemade ones from paper or cardboard).
• On the seventh lap, when the leader (playing Joshua) gives the signal, everyone shouts, and the walls are knocked down.

2. Craft Your Own Trumpet

Objective: To make a trumpet that the children can use in other activities related to the story.

Materials Needed:

• Heavy paper or cardstock
• Markers, crayons, or paint
• Tape or glue
• Stickers or glitter for decoration (optional)

Instructions:

1. Roll the paper into a cone shape and secure it with tape or glue.
2. Decorate the trumpet with markers, crayons, paint, stickers, or glitter.
3. Once the trumpet is dry, it's ready to use for marching around the "walls of Jericho."

3. Wall of Jericho Puzzle

Objective: To build teamwork and problem-solving skills.

Materials Needed:

• Large cardboard or poster board
• Markers or paint

Instructions:

1. Draw and cut out large blocks from the cardboard or poster board.
2. On each block, write a word or phrase from the story of Joshua and the Walls of Jericho.
3. Mix up the blocks and challenge the children to assemble the "wall" by putting the story in the correct order.

4. Memory Verse Relay

Objective: To memorize a verse from the story.

Verse to Memorize: Joshua 6:20 - "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."

How to Play:

• Divide the children into teams.
• One at a time, each team member runs to a leader to recite part of the verse until the entire verse is completed.
• The first team to finish reciting the verse correctly wins.

5. Jericho March Obstacle Course

Objective: To combine physical activity with the story's lesson.

Materials Needed:

• Various items to create obstacles (chairs, cones, ropes)
• A "Jericho" area that needs to be circled

Instructions:

1. Set up an obstacle course that leads to Jericho (an area marked by cones or a box).
2. Children must complete the obstacle course, then march around Jericho seven times.
3. On the seventh round, they shout and complete a final task (like knocking over a box) to "conquer" the city.

These activities not only reinforce the story of Joshua and the Walls of Jericho but also encourage teamwork, creativity, and physical activity among children, making the biblical lesson memorable and fun.

FAQs on Joshua and the Walls of Jericho

What happened to the city of Jericho after the walls fell?

After the walls fell, the Israelites took the city, as God had promised them. This victory was a significant moment, showing that with God's help, they could conquer the land He promised them.

Why did they march around the city?

God's ways are sometimes mysterious. Marching around the city was an act of faith and obedience. It showed their trust in God's plan, even when it didn't make sense from a human perspective.

What can we learn from Joshua's leadership?

Joshua's leadership teaches us the importance of listening to God and having the courage to follow His guidance, even when it's challenging or when others might doubt us.

Can we see the Walls of Jericho today?

The ancient city of Jericho is an archaeological site now. While we can't see the walls as Joshua did, archaeologists have found evidence of ancient walls and destruction that help us imagine what the city might have looked like.

Wrapping Things Up

The story of Joshua and the Walls of Jericho isn't just a cool story from the past; it's a lesson about faith, courage, and obedience. It teaches us that no problem is too big when we have faith and work together. So, the next time you face a "big wall" in your life, remember Joshua and the Walls of Jericho, and have faith that you, too, can overcome it.

Remember to add visuals like illustrations of the walls of Jericho, maps of the area, and diagrams showing how the Israelites might have marched around the city. These can make the story come to life and help kids understand and remember the lessons learned.