Joshua

Joshua 6: God judges Jericho and saves Rahab

Begin in prayer

Before we read how God brings down Jericho and saves Rahab and her family, please come to Him together. Ask Him to teach us the weight of sin and show us His mercy in Christ.

May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”

Genesis 18:25

Father in heaven, open our eyes to see Your righteous judgment and the mercy shown to Rahab. Please show us Christ, who saves those who trust Him, and make us more like Him. Bless our family as we hear Your Word. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Jericho is shut up, and God tells Joshua how Israel must march around the city. Seven priests carry trumpets before the ark as the people circle the city for six days. On the seventh day they march seven times, shout, and the wall falls down flat. Israel destroys the people, oxen, sheep and donkeys and burns the city. The silver, gold and metal vessels are set apart for the LORD. The spies bring out Rahab and her relatives, and Joshua saves her father's household alive. Joshua pronounces a curse on the man who rebuilds Jericho.

As you read Joshua 6, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD gives Israel Jericho, judges its sin, and spares Rahab and her family.

Jericho was shut up tight because of Israel, and no one went out or came in (verse 1). The LORD told Joshua that He had given Jericho into his hand (verse 2). For six days Israel marched once around the city, with seven priests blowing trumpets before the ark (verses 3 and 4). On the seventh day they marched seven times, the people shouted, and the wall fell down flat (verses 15 and 20). Long before, God told Abraham that the sin of the Amorites was not yet full (Genesis 15 verse 16). Moses had said that the LORD drives out these nations for their wickedness (Deuteronomy 9 verse 4). Israel burned the city, and the silver, gold and metal vessels went into the LORD's treasury (verse 24). Joshua's men brought out Rahab and her family alive, as they had sworn (verses 22 and 23). She lived in the middle of Israel, because she hid the messengers (verse 25).

How does Joshua 6 show us that the LORD gives Israel Jericho, judges its sin, and spares Rahab and her family?

God does what He says about Jericho.

The LORD said He had given Jericho into Joshua's hand (verse 2). Israel marched around the city as He commanded, and the people shouted when Joshua told them (verses 3 and 16). The wall fell down flat, and the people took the city (verse 20). Moses had said that the LORD drove out these nations for their wickedness (Deuteronomy 9 verse 4).

Rahab and her family are saved alive.

Joshua told the two spies to bring Rahab out, as they had sworn (verse 22). They brought out her father, her mother, her brothers and all her family (verse 23). Joshua saved her alive, and she lived in the middle of Israel (verse 25). Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1 verse 15).

The city is burned and its treasure belongs to God.

Everything in the city was devoted to the LORD (verse 17). Israel burned it, and the silver, gold, brass and iron went into the LORD's treasury (verse 24). Joshua warned Israel not to take any devoted thing, or they would bring trouble on the camp (verse 18). He also spoke a curse on any man who would rebuild Jericho (verse 26).

Memorise

The young men who were spies went in, and brought out Rahab with her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had.

Joshua 6:23

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, am I trusting Jesus for mercy when I deserve judgment?

The wall fell down flat, and the people took Jericho. Joshua saved Rahab and her father's household alive, because she hid the messengers. Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1 verse 15), and the LORD showed Rahab that kind of mercy.

Every sinner deserves the judgment that fell on Jericho. At the cross Jesus took that judgment for His people, and His payment is enough for every sinner who trusts Him. The grave could not keep Him, for He rose.

So turn from your sin and run to Jesus while He is calling you. Trust Him alone. Those who trust Him are forgiven, and He does not send them away.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD gave Jericho to Israel, judged its sin, and spared Rahab, who trusted Him. Parents, please explain verses 17 and 21, where Jericho is destroyed, as the LORD's command then and no pattern for war today. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His righteous judgment and for His mercy to Rahab, and bring the heart question to Jesus. Every child can pray, so please invite each one to speak if they want to.

To you, my strength, I will sing praises. For God is my high tower, the God of my mercy.

Psalm 59:17

Lord God, thank You for saving Rahab and her family alive. Your judgments are righteous, and Your mercy is great. Please help each one of us repent and trust Jesus for forgiveness. Teach our family to take sin seriously and seek mercy in Christ this week. Amen.