Mission Impossible II The Conquest of Jericho Joshua 5:13 - 6:21

“I can’t see why you are making such a big issue out of this; just get three quotes and fix the wall.”

study of 413 “famous and exceptionally gifted people” 392 had to overcome very difficult obstacles in order to become who they were

3 P’s Israel had a Problem (6:1) Israel had a Promise (6:2) Israel had a Plan of attack (6:3-21)

Israel had a Problem “Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.” Joshua 6:1 Outer wall was about 6ft thick and 20ft high Inner wall was 12ft thick and 30 ft high Between the walls was a 15ft guarded walkway

Israel had a Problem How to attack a walled city: Go over the wall with ladders Dig a tunnel underneath the wall Smash a Hole in the wall with a battering ram Put a siege on the city and starve them out Deception such as the Trojan Horse

Israel had a Promise “Now when Joshua was near Jericho he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand.” Joshua 5:13 “Neither, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Joshua 5:14

Israel had a Promise “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men...” Joshua 6:2 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God, for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Israel had a Promise Promise of ongoing victory – “But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:57 Promise that we will never fight alone – “…..I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

Israel had a Plan "Yet another way of working is to begin with God; to ask His plans, and to offer ourselves to Him to carry out His purposes."

Israel had a Plan God’s plan was for Israel’s soldiers to march around the city of Jericho following the Ark and seven priests who were to blow seven trumpets led the Ark. The people were to say nothing during the entire journey around the city! When they finished walking around the city -- they went back to camp! They did the same thing for six straight days. On the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times. At the completion of the seventh lap they were to blow the horn and all the people would shout! (6:3-5)

Israel had a Plan Silence before the Lord. (6:10) Seven Day March of unquestioned and continued obedience (6:3-15) Shout of Victory (6:16, 20-21)

Silence before the Lord (6:10) Joshua commanded the people, "Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!" Joshua 6:10 Moses said, "The Lord will fight for you; and you shall hold your peace." Exodus 14:14

Silence before the Lord (6:10) "Be still [hush up! listen!] and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10 "To draw near [to God] and listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools." Ecclesiastes 5:1

Silence before the Lord (6:10) "The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out." Proverbs 18:15 "Every one who hears these words of Mine is like a wise man who built his house on a rock." Matthew 7:24-25 "Consider carefully how you listen." Luke 8:18

"The voice speaks to you all the time. You just fail to listen." - Joan of Arc

Erik Weihenmayer

Seven Day March of unquestioned and continued obedience (6:3-15) ”Abraham - called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance obeyed and went even though he did know where he was going... ” Hebrews 11:8 "were still living [and obeying] by faith when they died [even though] they did not receive the things promised.“ Hebrews 11:13

“many people don't see the answers to their prayers simply because they have stopped one round short in their conquest of their personal Jericho.” – Dr Alan Redpath

Lee Trevino

"Christian discipleship is a long obedience in the same direction." - Eugene Peterson

Shout of Victory “The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!” Joshua 6:16

Shout of Victory (6:16, 20-21) "The city's wall do appear to have collapsed suddenly and the blackened timbers and stones, as well as a layer of soot dating to 1400 B.C., .all suggest that the city burned, as the Bible says it did. Archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon also found bushels of grain on the site, .consistent with the Bible's account of a springtime conquest so rapid that Jericho's besieged populace had not exhausted their food." U.S. News and World Report Oct 1991