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Miraculous Fall of Jericho
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above and on earth beneath.” Like the people before the Flood, the
Canaanites only lived to blaspheme Heaven and defile the earth.
Both love and justice demanded that these rebels against God and
enemies of humanity be destroyed.
“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down” (
Hebrews 11:30
). The
Commander of the Lord’s host communicated only with Joshua, not
to all the congregation. It was left with them to believe or doubt
the words of Joshua. They could not see the army of angels who
attended them under the leadership of the Son of God. They might
have reasoned: “How ridiculous, marching daily around the walls of
the city, blowing trumpets of rams’ horns—this cannot do anything
to those towering fortifications.” But God wanted to impress on their
minds that their strength was not in human wisdom or might, but
only in the God of their salvation. God will do great things for those
who trust Him. If they will place their entire confidence in Him and
faithfully obey Him, He will help His believing children in every
emergency.
Why Israel Was Defeated at Ai
Soon after the fall of Jericho, Joshua prepared to attack Ai, a
small town among the hills a few miles west of the Jordan Valley.
Spies brought the report that there were only a few people living
there, and only a small force would be needed to overthrow it.
The great victory that God had given them had made the Israelites
self-confident. They failed to realize that only divine help could give
them success. Even Joshua made his plans for the conquest of Ai
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without seeking counsel from God.
The Israelites had begun to look on their foes with disrespect.
They expected an easy victory and thought three thousand men were
enough to take the city. These marched almost to the city’s gate,
only to meet determined resistance. Panic-stricken at how many and
well-prepared their enemies were, they fled in confusion down the
steep slope. The Canaanites “chased them from before the gate ...
and struck them down in the descent.” Though the loss was small in
numbers—thirty-six men killed—the defeat was discouraging. “The
hearts of the people melted and became like water.”