Joshua 5:13-15; 6 Directions
From 2Timothy2.org
Contents
Objectives
- Students will determine to follow God's way, no matter how illogical it may sound.
Opening
Have students fold a paper crane following the directions below. The point here is that following directions is important even if it seems silly to make a particular fold, the result is worth the work.
Joshua 5:13-15; 6 Directions Handout
Main Body
The Real General (V. 5:13-15)
- What surprising guest arrives in Joshua 5:13?
- The commander of the army of the Lord. In the following questions we will show that this was Christ, if this comes up in this question then you should go with it and use the questions that follow to guide follow up conversations.
- How does Joshua respond in verse 14?
- Joshua worships the individual.
- How does the individuals response in verse 15 compare with the traditional response of an angel to worship?
- Revelation 22:8-9 we see that the angels reflect worship back to God.
- What are the implications?
- This was none other than Christ himself pre-incarnate.
- Why do you suppose that Christ chose to show himself at this moment?
The Directions (V. 6:1-5)
- How is Jericho described in Joshua 6:1?
- "The city of Jericho stood in the way of Israel’s possession of the land. The city was one of the oldest in the world, but it was not particularly large. ... The Bible presents Jericho as a formidable city with imposing walls that could not be scaled (6:1)." [1]
- What strategy does God command in Joshua 6:2-5?
The battle plan Joshua was to use was most unusual. Ordinary weapons of war such as battering rams and scaling ladders were not to be employed. Rather Joshua and his armed men were to march around the city once a day for six successive days with seven priests blowing trumpets preceding the ark of the covenant. On the seventh day they were to circle Jericho seven times and then the wall of Jericho would collapse and the city would be taken.
In the Bible the number seven often symbolizes completeness or perfection. There were seven priests, seven trumpets, seven days, seven circuits of the wall on the seventh day. Though God’s plan of action may have seemed foolish to men it was the perfect scheme for this battle.[2]
- What did trumpets represent?
What was the significance of the blaring trumpets? These instruments were “jubilee trumpets” (lit. Heb.) used in connection with Israel’s solemn feasts to proclaim the presence of God (Num. 10:10). The conquest of Jericho was not therefore exclusively a military undertaking but also a religious one, and the trumpets declared that the Lord of heaven and earth was weaving His invisible way around this doomed city. [3]
- How does Joshua respond to God's battle plan in verse 6?
Obedience (V. 8-26)
- What do the people do in verses 8-16?
- What promise is made in verse 17?
- What conditions are given in verses 18-19?
- What takes place in verses 20 and 21?
- How does Israel keep its promise in verses 22-25?
- What curse does Joshua place on the city in 26
The Result (V. 27)
- According to verse 27, what was the result of complete obedience.
- The following video is an interesting presentation of some of the fats about Jericho. https://www.amazon.com/Expedition-Bible-Unearthed-Joel-Kramer/dp/B003TMJKNY
Conclusion
- What are some examples of seemingly illogical commands that we as Christians today must follow?
- Why and how should we follow those commands?
