40 Days of Faith: Day 31

Hebrews 11:30 – By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

The children of Israel were commanded to do something unusual in their conquest of Jericho. God told them to march around the city once each day for six days, and then seven times on the seventh day. It wasn’t a military strategy — it was a test of faith.

As the writer of Hebrews moves on from Moses’ leadership, we pick up with Joshua and the fact that he and the Israelites have crossed over the Jordan river on dry ground, even though the river was at flood stage. They have settled their camp in Canaan, and now, they are on the move to conquer Jericho.

Jericho, this ancient city, is believed to be the oldest city in the world. Archaeology tells us that ancient Jericho was a fortified city with two massive walls. It had an inner wall about 12 feet thick and an outer wall about six feet thick.[1] I wonder if the spies who had entered the land 40 years prior had chronicled the thickness of the walls, adding to their unbelief that Jericho wasn’t a city that could be conquered.

 As this new generation of the Israelites enter the region, the book of Joshua notes that the entire city of Jericho has been closed, because the people of Jericho are captured with fear. Joshua 6:1-2 states:
 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.”

 The city itself covered about 6–9 acres, roughly the size of 6 or 7 football fields. Scholars estimate the circumference of the city was around 2,000–2,400 feet — just over half a mile.[2] That means one lap around Jericho was less than a mile.
 
 Notice the instruction from the Lord to Joshua in Joshua 6:3-7:
 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. 4 Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.” 6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord.” 7 And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.”

 So, here’s the picture. As they start out from camp, the men of war are leading the way. After them, there are seven priests who will be blowing seven trumpets of rams’ horns. After the priests, the ark of the Lord. After the ark of the Lord, the rear guard. After that, the people.

 Before we move on from here, I want you to note something with me. The focus in Joshua 6 is about the ark of the Lord, which signifies God’s presence. Subsequent to the ark is the people’s obedience to the instructions. At least, that is how I read it. God’s presence in the fight was the difference maker.

 Now, notice the call to be obedient and persist in it. Joshua 6:10-14 states:
 But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.” 11 So he caused the ark of the Lord to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp.
 12 Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets blew continually. 14 And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.

 For six days, Israel walked about 0.6 miles per day. On the seventh day, they marched about 4.2 miles in total — still very doable for families, soldiers, and priests. Altogether, across the whole week, they covered about 7–8 miles.

 The true victory wasn’t found in their fighting skills, but rather in their willingness to keep walking. On the seventh day, they were instructed to march seven times, and then, at the sound of the long trumpet, they were to shout to the Lord, and as the song declares, “…and the walls came tumblin’ down!”

 Faith that pleases God doesn’t always look flashy. Sometimes it looks like showing up, day after day, repeating the same small steps of obedience that feel routine or even foolish. The Israelites’ march around Jericho wasn’t about military strength—it was about trust. God is honored when His people keep walking, keep praying, keep serving, and keep believing, even when the results aren’t immediate. That’s persistent obedience. And it’s in persistence that the walls eventually fall. What walls in your life require you to keep circling in faith? Don’t give up on the sixth day. Don’t quit before the shout. Stay the course and watch what God will do.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for reminding me that obedience is often about persistence in the little things. Forgive me for the times I’ve grown weary and wanted to quit when the results weren’t immediate. Strengthen me to keep walking in faith, even when it feels repetitive or strange. Help me trust that You are at work in ways I cannot see. Lord, bring down the walls in my life, and may my obedience bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
 
[1] Kenyon, Excavations at Jericho, 1957; Wood, Did the Israelites Conquer Jericho?, Biblical Archaeology Review, 1990.
[2] Ibid.