Joshua 6:1-21

Israel had experienced quite a bit up to this point. God had delivered them from Egypt, parted the Red Sea for them to cross, and supplied everything they needed. For forty years, they grumbled and walked through the wilderness, but yet God still provided. Time after time, God showed them miracles.

Just before our text today, Joshua led Israel across the Jordan River and into the promised land. The priests that carried the Ark put their feet in the water. The water stood up and cut off so they could pass. Now that they had crossed over into the Promised Land, all they had to do was be obedient to God and go claim what He promised them.

Chapters 6-12 of Joshua hold the story of the battles Israel fought to claim the Promised Land. First, we see them come to Jericho.

Archaeologists tell us that Jericho was not a big city. It may have covered ten acres, and there were probably 20,000 people living there. It was about five miles away from the Jordan River. The walls were between 30-60 feet high and 12-20 feet thick (depending on which archaeologist’s notes you read). The walls were at least built in such a way that a chariot could be driven on the top.

Notice in our text that Joshua and Israel didn’t fight “for victory.” They fought “from victory.” When Joshua and his people looked at Jericho, they were to see it as already defeated. This is how we should live our lives – not defeated, but in victory.