The Walls of Jericho

Joshua stood very still. Across the wide desert waited one last city — Jericho — and the tallest walls he had ever seen.

Joshua was their leader now. 'Be strong and brave,' God had told him. 'I am with you.'

But Jericho had walls. HUGE walls. Taller than ten men, thick as houses, with a great gate locked tight.

The people stared up and up. 'Those walls are too high. How will we EVER get in?'

Joshua wasn't afraid. 'God brought us all this way,' he said. 'He won't stop now.'

First, Joshua sent two brave spies. 'Go,' he whispered. 'See the city. Be quick — and be careful.'

The spies slipped through the gate just before dark, into the twisting streets of Jericho.

All Jericho was afraid. 'The people with the mighty God are coming!' they whispered.

But someone spotted the strangers! Soldiers began to search. The spies had to hide — fast.

A kind woman named Rahab pulled them up to her roof. 'Quick — hide under the flax!'

Soldiers banged on her door. Rahab pointed far away. 'They went THAT way — hurry!'

'I know your God is the real God,' Rahab said. 'Please — when you come back, save my family.'

The spies gave her a bright red cord. 'Tie this in your window. Everyone inside your house will be safe.'

Down a rope from her high window they climbed, out into the night. 'Remember your promise!' Rahab called.

Rahab tied the red cord in her window — and waited, with all her family close.

The spies ran back to Joshua. 'The whole city is shaking with fear of us!'

Then God told Joshua how to win the city. It was the strangest plan Joshua had ever heard.

'We won't fight,' said Joshua. 'We'll MARCH around the city once a day. The priests will carry God's golden Ark and blow the horns.'

The people blinked. 'Just... walk around it? That's the whole plan?' But Joshua only smiled.

The priests lifted the holy golden Ark. Its angels gleamed. It was time to begin.

Around the great walls they marched. The horns blared — TOO-ROO! — but no one said a single word.

High on the walls, the people of Jericho watched. 'What are they DOING?' they wondered.

Then they marched home. The walls still stood. Nothing had happened at all.

'Marching won't knock down walls!' some grumbled. 'Just trust God,' said Joshua. 'Keep marching.'

Day two. Around they went again. TOO-ROO went the horns.

Day three. Day four. The walls did not move. Not one single stone.

Day five. Round and round the silent city, the horns echoing across the plain.

Inside, Rahab held her family close. The red cord still hung in the window. 'Soon,' she whispered. 'Be ready.'

Day six. Their feet were sore. Still the walls stood tall. Could this really work?

That night the whole camp was quiet. Tomorrow was the seventh day. Something felt different.

Joshua knelt and prayed. 'Tomorrow, Lord. I'm ready. We trust You.'

The seventh day came. 'Today,' said Joshua, 'we march SEVEN times around!'

One time around. Two. Three. Their hearts pounded louder with every step.

Four. Five. Six. The horns never stopped. TOO-ROO! TOO-ROO!

The seventh time around, Joshua raised his hand. Everyone went still.

'When the horns blow LONG,' Joshua cried, 'SHOUT with all your might! God will give us the city!'

The priests took a deep breath — and blew one long, mighty blast. BLAAAARE!

And all the people SHOUTED — a roar so big it shook the ground!

RUMBLE! CRACK! The mighty walls trembled — and came CRASHING down!

When the dust cleared, the great walls lay in heaps of stone. The road into Jericho lay wide open.

But one little house still stood — the one with the bright red cord. God kept Rahab and her family safe!

The two spies kept their promise. They led Rahab and her whole family safely out.

The people stared in wonder. They hadn't knocked down the walls. God had.

Joshua bowed his head. 'Thank You, God. We only had to trust and obey.'

Brave Rahab and her family came to live with God's people, safe and welcome.

That night, God's people danced and sang and celebrated. They were finally home.

Joshua looked at where the great walls used to be. With God, even the biggest walls fall down.