Blowing the trumpets against Jericho’s walls Joshua 6:1-27

Spiritually irresistible force meets the physically immovable object Immovable object – Joshua 6:1 Irresistible force – Zechariah 4:6 Israel the blessed instrument of God – Vs Jericho, the cursed stronghold of men- Hebrews 11:30 “by faith the walls of Jericho fell down” Joshua 6:26 “Cursed be the man before the Lord who rises up and builds this city Jericho”

Spiritually irresistible force meets the physically immovable object Open confidence in God vs hiding in fear Joshua 6:2 NKJV 2 And the LORD said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.” Joshua 2:9-11 Rahab to the spies

Background: Jericho – “moon city” – a city in the Jordon Valley about 17 miles NE of Jerusalem, founded as early as 8000 BC, It is the oldest inhabited city known. It was surrounded be a double wall and served as a fortress for the large population living around it… The outer wall was six feet thick, and the inner wall was twelve feet thick. Both were about thirty feet high.

The Impregnable city Obadiah 3,4 Psalm 33:13-17 The folly of trusting In one’s self – Psalm 118:8 The folly of hiding from God – Adam – Genesis 3:10 Jonah – Jonah 1:1-3 Hiding in the dark- John 3:19-21

The impossible task Required to believe & trust in God! Hebrews 11:1,30 “I have (past tense+ given Jericho into your hand” (Joshua 6:2) Not “I WILL GIVE (future tense) Same when God called Moses in Exodus Chapters 3 &4 Same when God called Gideon in Judges Chapter 6

The impossible task What About Us? 1 John 5:11-14 Obey God – Joshua 6:3-7,20,21 Not to take any spoils – Joshua 6:18 We are commanded to keep ourselves pure – 1 John 3:2,3; James 1:27 March around city “seven days” – structured persistence – Revelation 2:10 “Foolish” – but by whose definition? 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

The impossible task Man’s wisdom: limited, fallible, changeable God’s wisdom: unfathomable, unalterable, eternal. 1 Peter 3:21 “an antitype which now saves us- baptism… through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:4,5 “that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

The inevitable result Israel: protected while marching, vulnerable to attack, spared from collapsing walls, direct entrance to city in rank Jericho: loss of power, pride & protection, of all possessions & wealth, of hope, of life God: Is glorified – Psalm 46:10; Leviticus 10:3; is served – Joshua 24:14- 18,31

The will & works of men will not stand in the way of god & his people Jericho was utterly destroyed – Hebrews 6:17-19 The faith and obedience of God’s children brings victory and spiritual success