(6:1-27) A Large Challenge - The city of Jericho, built thousands of years before Joshua was born, was one of the oldest cities in the world. In some places it had fortified walls up to 25 feet high and 20 feet thick. Soldiers standing guard on top of the walls could see for miles. Jericho was a symbol of military power and strength- the Canaanites considered it invincible. Israel would attack this city first, and its destruction would put the fear of God's people into the heart of every person in Canaan. The Canaanites saw Israel's God as a nature god because he had parted the Jordan River and as a war god because he had defeated Sihon and Og. But the Canaanites did not consider him a fortress god - one who could prevail against a walled city. The defeat of Jericho showed that Israel's God was not only superior to the Canaanite gods but also invincible.

(6:2-5) A Promise of Victory - God told Joshua that Jericho was already delivered into his hands--the enemy was already defeated! What confidence Joshua must have had as he went into battle. Christians also fight against a defeated enemy. Our enemy, Satan, has been defeated by Christ (Romans 8:37-39; Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 John 3:8). Although we still fight battles every day and sin runs rampant in the world, we have the assurance that the war has already been won. We do not have to be paralyzed by the power of a defeated enemy; we can overcome him through Christ's power.

(6:3-5) Instructions for Victory - Why did God give Joshua all these complicated instructions for the battle? Several answers are possible: (1) God was making it undeniably clear that the battle would depend upon him, not upon Israel's weapons and expertise. This is why priests carrying the ark, not soldiers, led the Israelites into battle. (2) God's method of taking the city accentuated the terror already felt in Jericho (2:9). (3) This strange military maneuver was a test of the Israelites' faith and their willingness to follow God completely. The blowing of the horns had a special significance. The same horns used in their religious festivals were to be blown in their battles to remind them that their victory would come from the Lord, not their own military might (Numbers 10:9-10).

(6:7-21) A Call to Ban - Why did God demand that the Israelites destroy almost everyone and everything in Jericho? He was carrying out severe judgment against the wickedness of the Canaanites. This kind of judgment, called a ban, usually required that everything be destroyed (see Deuteronomy 12:2-3; 13:12-18). Because of their evil practices and intense idolatry, the Canaanites were a stronghold of rebellion against God. This threat to the right kind of living God required had to be removed. If not, it would affect and spread throughout all Israel like cancer. A few people and some items in Jericho were not destroyed, but these were special cases. Rahab and her household were saved because she had faith in God and because she had helped the Israelite spies. The silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron were also preserved, not to enrich the people, but to beautify the tabernacle and its services (Joshua 6:24). God's purpose in all this was to keep the people's faith and religion uncontaminated. He did not want the plunder to remind Israel of Canaanite practices. God also wants us to be pure. He wants to cleanse us from our sin and idolatry when we begin our new lives with him. We must not let the desire for personal gain distract us from our spiritual purpose. We must also reject any objects or images that remind us of our old lives of rebellion against God. (For information on how Israel was told to handle plunder in a different situation, see the note on Numbers 31:25-30.)

(6:26) A Curse to Rebuild - This curse was fulfilled in 1 Kings 16:34 when a man named Hiel rebuilt Jericho and consequently lost his oldest and youngest sons. Some interpreters believe that Hiel actually sacrificed his sons and placed them in the foundation and gate masonry to ward off evil.

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we Continue in the book of Joshua with Chapter 6 and we see Israel and the account of the victory of Jericho. In this familiar story we see the walls of city fall down when Israel is instructed to march around this city 7 times with Ark of the Covenant representing the presence of God. Many applications can be made from our text but what catches my attention is the unorthodox way the Lord gives victory. Which goes to show that the Lords ways are not are ways. Israel simply had a need, looked to the Lord, obeyed what He said by faith, and the Lord gave the victory. The same is to be done today. We are to acknowledge our need to the Lord. Look toward Him and obey His word by faith. When we do we will see the Lord give us victory if it is according to His Will. The Lord has met my needs though many ways and many of these were unorthodox but all continued and act of obedience and a measure of faith. The Lord did exampled this to me this weekend as my 9 year old boy has a birthday and we had no funds to do what he wanted. We prayed and the Lord gave us free zoo tickets, My neighbor gave us his favorite food, my brother gave him the toy he wanted, and I got paid from an unexpected source to cover the rest down to the dollar. All of these were unorthodox but the Lord provided in a way only He could. Praise the Lord...How about you? Do you see the Lord working in different ways in our lives? Let us learn from today's text and see that the Lords ways are not always our way and we must respond to our needs with faith and obedience.