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Kings and Prophets · Lesson 1

The Walls of Jericho

Joshua 6:1-27; Joshua 2:1-21 Old Testament PrincipleObedience

Israelite priests blowing rams' horns and carrying the ark of the covenant as the people march silently around the high walls of Jericho.

God told Israel to march around Jericho for seven days, and when they trusted and obeyed, God made the walls fall down flat.

We obey God because He loves us and His ways are good, even when we don't understand His plan.

  1. CreationGod made it
  2. FallWe broke it
  3. RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
  4. RestorationJesus makes it new

Memory verse

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.”

Hebrews 11:30 BSB

Christ Connection · Better than

Joshua led God's people into the land God promised, but Hebrews says Joshua could not give them the rest God really meant. Jesus, whose name is the same as Joshua's, is the greater Savior. He brings His people into God's true rest and saves them from their sins.

Matthew 1:21; Hebrews 4:8-10; Matthew 1:5

The Big Story · Redemption

God kept His promise to Abraham by bringing Israel into the land and giving them its first city. The first family saved in Jericho, Rahab's, became part of the family line of Jesus, the greater Joshua.

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God made Jericho's walls fall when His people trusted and obeyed Him.

Start here

Ask, "What's the biggest wall you've ever seen?" Let a few kids answer. Say, "Today God's people came to a city with huge walls. God gave them a very strange plan to get in!"

Bible story 6 min

God's people had crossed the Jordan River. Now they came to a city called Jericho. It had big, thick walls. The gates were locked tight.

A woman named Rahab lived in a house on the wall. She said, "I know your God is the true God." She hung a red rope in her window so her family would be safe.

God told Joshua, "I have given you Jericho. March around the city one time each day for six days. The priests will blow horns. On day seven, march around seven times. Then shout!"

The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.

Try an activity

Count the laps 8 min

You’ll need: Paper or plastic cups (lots), Cardboard tubes or rolled paper

  1. Build a cup wall. Kids march around it once for each of six "days," holding up a finger for each day.
  2. On "day seven," march seven times, counting out loud. Then shout and gently knock the wall down.
  3. Ask, "How many laps was that in all?" (13!)
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More lessons from this story

Same Bible story, a different principle.

With Building BricksThe Walls of Jericho: PatienceJoshua 6:1-20; Joshua 6:25; Psalm 27:14; Hebrews 11:30; Galatians 4:4Jericho's walls were tall and its gates were shut tight. But before Israel took one step, God told Joshua, "I have delivered Jericho into your hand." Then God gave a strange plan – march around the city once a day for six days, without saying a word, then seven times on the seventh day. Day after day, they waited and walked in silence. On the seventh day, the priests blew the horns, the people shouted and the walls fell down. Patience means waiting God's way, trusting that He will keep His promise in His time.Old TestamentPatience

More lessons on Obedience

The same principle in other Bible stories.

Kings and ProphetsGod Calls Samuel1 Samuel 3:1-21When God's word was rare in Israel, God called the boy Samuel by name, and Samuel learned to say, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."Old TestamentObedienceBalaam’s DonkeyNumbers 22:1–24:19King Balak paid Balaam to curse God's people. On the way, Balaam's donkey saw the angel of the LORD and stopped, and God made her talk! Balaam could only say the words God gave him, so he blessed Israel three times. God's word never changes, so we listen and obey Him the first time.Old TestamentObedienceWith Building BricksThe Wise and Foolish BuildersMatthew 7:24-29; Luke 6:46-49Jesus told about two builders. The wise one built on the rock and his house stood through the storm. Jesus says those who hear His words and do them are like the wise builder.New TestamentObedienceJosiah Finds God’s Word2 Kings 22:1–23:25; 2 Chronicles 34:1-33Josiah became king when he was only eight. Years later, workers fixing the temple found God's Word, which had been lost. When Josiah heard it, he was sorry for how his people had disobeyed. He read it to everyone, promised to obey it with all his heart and led the people back to God.Old TestamentObedienceThe Ten CommandmentsExodus 19:1-20:21; Exodus 31:18; Matthew 22:34-40God rescued His people from slavery in Egypt. Then at Mount Sinai He gave them Ten Commandments, showing them how to love Him and love each other. God's rescue came first, and His good commands show the rescued how to live.Old TestamentObedienceWith Building BricksThe Tower of Babel: ObedienceGenesis 9:1; Genesis 11:1-9; John 6:38After the flood, God told Noah's family to spread out and fill the earth. But years later, people stayed together in one place and said, "Let's build a tower up to the sky, so we will not be scattered." They used baked bricks and tar to build a city and a tower. God saw what they were doing. He mixed up their language so they could not understand each other, and they had to stop building. Then God spread them out over the whole earth, just as He had planned. Obedience means doing what God says, because His plan is good.Old TestamentObedience