After 40 years of the Children of Israel wandering in the wilderness, Moses had died at the age of 120.
So, who was their new leader? It was Joshua.
As their leader, Joshua was responsible for finding a safe way to lead his people across the Jordan River.
More importantly, Joshua also had to find a safe way for the Israelites to conquer the walled city of Jericho, which was about six miles beyond the river-crossing.
Before either of those things happened, a Ringleader asked a great question.
RINGLEADER: Joshua! How are we supposed to win the Battle of Jericho when a gigantic wall surrounds it?
Joshua said, "No worries! I have a plan. I am going to send 2 spies to find us the best way to enter and conquer that city."
Those 2 spies met a friendly innkeeper who had an inn built into the wall on the outskirts of the city. Her name was Rahab.
Rahab said, "If you promise to keep my family and me safe, I promise to hide you from Jericho's fighting men."
The 2 spies promised. In the middle of the night, just before they prepared to climb down a rope attached to her window, they handed Rahab a red cord.
They said, "Hang this red cord outside this window so our fighting men will know which part of this city not to attack during the upcoming battle. Since you have kept your promise to hide us on this day, we guarantee that you and your family will be safe."
Before they escaped to safety, Rahab told the 2 spies some comforting news."
Rahab said, "Even though the people of Jericho worship idols, I believe that your God is much more powerful. After all, we have all heard the amazing things your God has done to keep you safe, such as parting the Red Sea. No wonder everyone in Jericho is afraid of you and your God."
Joshua and the Israelites were thrilled to hear this good news.
Joshua then prayed, "God, what should we do to win this battle of Jericho?"
God gave Joshua a very strange plan to follow. Then God said:
The Ringleaders said:
RINGLEADER: How can that crazy-sounding plan possibly work?
Even though there were still doubts and fears, all the Israelites agreed to follow God's 7-day plan.
On the first day, 40,000 fighting men and 11 priests got ready to line up and march around the city of Jericho one time.
They kept quiet as God had warned them:
Some of the people of Jericho stood on top of the wall watching this silent parade.
People inside the walls probably asked, "What do you see?"
The watchers reported, "There's a long line of fighting men all holding swords. Near the front of the line, there are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 priests blowing trumpets made of ram's horns. Next in line are 4 priests holding poles and a gold-covered box. I wonder what's inside that box? And following that, there are thousands of soldiers also holding swords."
The only sounds heard were marching feet and trumpet blasts.
Since that lap around the city was only about half a mile, they could easily complete the march in about 15 minutes.
That would be like us silently marching around the gym 10 times.
Those 40,000 fighting men and 11 priests repeated that silent march six days in a row.
It was different on the 7th day. God had told them, "March around the city 7 times." That silent march would have lasted nearly 2 hours.
The tension inside the walled city of Jericho was immense. They saw the Israelites marching around their city 1 time, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 times.
But..., at the end of that 7th lap, God had told the 40,000 soldiers to yell as loudly as they could as soon as they heard the priests blow a loooonnng trumpet blast.
Believe it or not, right after the Israelites yelled, except for the part of the wall that had the red cord hanging out the window, those tall, thick walls tumbled down.
Quickly, the 2 spies ran in to help Rahab and her family escape. After that, the Israelites safely used their swords on all the idol-worshipping people of Jericho.
Centuries later, Rahab and her husband became one of the long-ago grandparents of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
And as the chorus of the Battle of Jericho song goes:
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
And the walls came a-tumbling down.
Do you want to sing that chorus?