Israel Seeing Jericho's Walls Fall Down, by Faith

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. (Hebrews 11:30)

The children of Israel are now poised on the edge of the land that God had promised to give them. By faith, they had kept the Passover and were spared the judgment of the firstborn that befell the unbelieving Egyptians. By faith, they had been delivered from bondage in Egypt. By faith, they had passed through the Red Sea. Now, they would begin to possess the promised blessings of God, seeing Jericho's walls fall down, by faith.

The first great challenge that Israel faced in the land was the fortress city of Jericho. Previously, the doubting spies had discouraged the people by speaking of these impenetrable cities. "The cities are great and fortified up to heaven"(Deuteronomy 1:28). Now, the Lord gives words of encouragement. "And the LORD said to Joshua: 'See! I have given Jericho into your hand'" (Joshua 6:2). Although these words must have stirred hope, the battle plan may have brought some perplexity. "You shallmarch around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days…But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets" (Joshua 6:3-4). The natural question would have been, "How can a fortified city be taken by marching in circles and blowing trumpets?" Yet, these unusual battle instructions were accompanied by a divine promise. "When they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat"(Joshua 6:5). If the people would trust in the Lord, march around the city as told, and add a victory shout at the end of the seventh day, then the walls would fall down. "And he said to the people, 'Proceed, and march around the city'" (Joshua 6:7).

Day after day, they marched on silently. On the seventh day, they marched repeatedly. Many times they may have been tempted to forsake the process as foolish and futile. Yet, patiently and obediently, they pressed on, by faith. Finally, the seventh march was completed on the seventh day. "When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout…the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city… and they took the city" (Joshua 6:20). How could this be? It was the result offaith in God. "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down."

The Israelites Passing through the Red Sea, by Faith

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas theEgyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. (Hebrews 11:29)

By faith, Moses called God's people to apply the blood of the Passover lamb that they might be delivered from the judgment that was to befall Egypt. "By faith he kept thePassover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touchthem" (Hebrews 11:28). Then, Moses led the people out of Egypt, eventually passing through the Red Sea, by faith.

Instead of sending Israel directly north toward the promised land, the Lord sent them eastward toward the Red Sea. "So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea" (Exodus 13:18). From the outset of their journey, the Lord became their guide. "And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light" (Exodus 13:21).

Yet, Pharaoh's heart hardened against Israel once again. "So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea" (Exodus 14:9). Soon, the people were trapped between the formidable sea and a mighty army. They were overtaken with fear, so Moses pointed them to the Lord. "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today" (Exodus 14:13). Then, as the Lord had instructed him,"Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go backby a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters weredivided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left" (Exodus 14:21-22). Into this intimidating setting, by faith in the Lord, the children of Israel advanced. "By faith theypassed through the Red Sea as by dry land."

Again, as the Lord commanded, Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. "Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained" (Exodus 14:28). The rebellious Egyptians could not follow where God's people had gone by faith. "Whereas theEgyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned."