Lesson 4
The Battle
(JOSHUA 6)
Before you begin …
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and wisdom as you go through this lesson.
• Read Joshua 6. This lesson references chapter 6 in Be Strong. It will be helpful for you to have your Bible and a copy of the commentary available as you work through this lesson.
Getting Started
From the Commentary
It’s unfortunate that many of the “militant songs” of the church have been removed from some hymnals, apparently because the idea of warfare disturbs people and seems to contradict the words and works of Jesus Christ. But these zealous editors with scissors seem to have forgotten that the main theme of the Bible is God’s holy warfare against Satan and sin. In Genesis 3:15, God declared war on Satan, and one day He will declare the victory when Jesus comes as Conqueror to establish His kingdom (Rev. 19:11–21). If you eliminate the militant side of the Christian faith, then you must abandon the cross, for it was on the cross that Jesus won the victory over sin and Satan (Col. 2:13–15).
—Be Strong, pages 85–86
1. Why do you think many churches are uncomfortable with the military imagery in the Bible? What are some of the ways your church still uses this imagery? How can this imagery strengthen the church? What are the dangers of overemphasizing this imagery?
More to Consider: Read Paul’s warning about the savage wolves that are ready to destroy the flock (Acts 20:28–29). How does this passage relate to the military themes in Joshua 6?
2. Choose one verse or phrase from Joshua 6 that stands out to you. This could be something you’re intrigued by, something that makes you uncomfortable, something that puzzles you, something that resonates with you, or just something you want to examine further. Write that here.
Going Deeper
From the Commentary
The Christian’s warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against enemies in the spiritual realm (Eph. 6:10–18), and the weapons we use are spiritual (2 Cor. 10:3–6). Satan and his demonic armies use people to oppose and attack the church of God, and if we don’t take our stand with Christ, we’ve already lost the battle. In the army of Jesus Christ there can be no neutrality. “He that is not with me is against me,” said Jesus, and He spoke those words in the context of spiritual warfare (Matt. 12:24–30). Since the apostle Paul often used the military image to describe the Christian life, we dare not ignore the subject (Eph. 6:10ff.; 2 Tim. 2:1–4; Rom. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:8).
—Be Strong, page 86
3. The Old Testament is rife with stories of great battles between good and evil. What does God reveal about Himself through the battles described in Joshua? What are some examples of “battles” today that reveal the heart of God?
From the Commentary
The Christian soldier stands in a position of guaranteed victory because Jesus Christ has already defeated every spiritual enemy (John 12:31). Jesus defeated Satan not only in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1–11), but also during His earthly ministry (12:22–29), on the cross (Col. 2:13–15), and in His resurrection and ascension (Eph. 1:19–23). As He intercedes for His people in heaven, He helps us mature and accomplish His will (Heb. 13:20–21), and “if God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31).
—Be Strong, pages 86–87
4. Read Joshua 6:1–5. This passage tells us that the victory is assured with God on our side. How might such assurance affect the way soldiers approach the battle? Does this mean there won’t be any suffering? Explain. How is this truth evident also today when people encounter trials? What does God’s assurance of victory look like to those who are enduring pain?
From the History Books
If you look back at the history of wars on our planet, you’ll find a few repeating themes. One is that most wars are sparked by a disagreement over land. Rather than work things out in a civilized, peaceful fashion, nations choose to battle for what they believe is rightfully theirs. Another common theme is fear. Nations operate frequently out of fear—fear of losing their power, significance, or meaning in the context of the larger world. A third common theme is lack of trust. If nations trusted each other, they could come to the table and talk through issues calmly. But a lack of trust leads to secrecy and espionage and often leads to fights over what may amount to nothing but misinformation.
5. What sort of battle were the Israelites’ embroiled in at Jericho? What role did the desire for property play? Fear? Distrust? How are these factors significant in the battles we face around our world today? What role do they play in more domestic “battles,” whether over politics or relationships? How did God step into the battle at Jericho to resolve all of these issues? How can He help us with the battles we face today?
From the Commentary
It’s possible that the Lord spoke the following words to Joshua when He confronted him at Jericho (5:13–15). The tense of the verb is important: “I have given Jericho into your hand” (6:2 NKJV, italics added). The victory had already been won! All Joshua and his people had to do was claim the promise and obey the Lord.
—Be Strong, page 88
6. How did Joshua claim God’s promise of victory? What makes a believer today victorious? How do Christians become familiar with God’s promises? (See Josh. 1:8; Rom. 10:17.)
From the Commentary
“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days” (Heb. 11:30). “And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4 NKJV).
Faith is not believing in spite of evidence, for the people of Israel had been given one demonstration after another proving that God’s Word and God’s power can be trusted.
—Be Strong, page 91
7. Read Joshua 6:6–16, 20. How were the Israelites’ actions evidence of faith? What evidence did they have that God would deliver what He had promised? What evidence do we have today that God delivers on His promises? How does this inform our faith?
From the Commentary
The activities of the week were a test of the Jewish people’s faith and patience. No doubt some of them were anxious to get on with the invasion so they could claim their inheritance and settle down to enjoy the rest God had promised them (Josh. 1:13). To some of them, it may have seemed a futile waste of time to devote an entire week to the taking of one city. Impatience was one of Israel’s besetting sins, and God was helping them learn patient obedience, for it’s through “faith and patience” that God’s people inherit what He has promised (Heb. 6:12). God is never in a hurry. He knows what He’s doing, and His timing is never off.
If the week’s schedule was a test of their patience, the divine command of silence was a test of their self-control. People who can’t control their tongues can’t control their bodies (James 3:1–2), and what good are soldiers whose bodies are not disciplined? “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10). In the Christian life there’s “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Eccl. 3:7), and wise is the child of God who knows the difference.
—Be Strong, page 92
8. How did the people in Jericho respond to the march around their city? Why was the command of silence difficult for the Israelites? Why is it difficult to keep quiet in the face of great challenges? How did Jesus model this wisdom of knowing when to be quiet and when to speak? (See Isa. 53:7; Matt. 26:62–63; 27:14; Luke 23:9.)
More to Consider: The Holy Spirit directed the writer of Hebrews to use this event as one of the “by faith” examples (Heb. 11:30). In what ways was the fall of Jericho an encouragement to God’s people?
From the Commentary
Let me quote Andrew Bonar’s wise counsel: “Let us be as watchful after the victory as before the battle.” Because one soldier didn’t heed this warning, Israel’s next challenge in Canaan turned out to be a humiliating defeat. Joshua gave the soldiers four instructions to obey after they had taken the city. The first two were:
(1) Devote the entire city to God (Josh. 6:17–19). This meant that everything was dedicated to the Lord—the people, the houses, the animals, and all the spoils of war—and He could do with it whatever He pleased.…
(2) Rescue Rahab and her family (Josh. 6:22–23, 25–26).…
God saved and protected Rahab because of her faith (Heb. 11:31), and because she led her family to trust in Jehovah, they were also saved.
—Be Strong, pages 93–94
9. Review Joshua 6:17–19, 21–27. Why did Joshua give the instruction to devote the entire city to God? What did he mean by that? How are we to devote our communities to God today? Why did Joshua single out Rahab and her family? What lesson is there in this directive for us today?
From the Commentary
Joshua gave the soldiers four instructions to obey after they had taken the city. The last two were:
(3) Destroy the people (Josh. 6:21). It disturbs some people that God commanded every living thing in Jericho to be killed. Isn’t our God a God of mercy? After all, it’s one thing for the Jews to kill the enemy soldiers, but why kill women, children, and even animals? …
(4) Burn the city (Josh. 6:24). “Thy God is a consuming fire” was spoken by Moses in Deuteronomy 4:24 long before it was quoted by the Holy Spirit in Hebrews 12:29.
—Be Strong, pages 95, 97
10. Why did God direct Joshua to destroy the people and burn the city after the Israelites’ victory? What message was He giving to the Israelites? What message is He giving us today in this story?
Looking Inward
Take a moment to reflect on all that you’ve explored thus far in this study of Joshua 6. Review your notes and answers and think about how each of these things matters in your life today.
Tips for Small Groups: To get the most out of this section, form pairs or trios and have group members take turns answering these questions. Be honest and as open as you can in this discussion, but most of all, be encouraging and supportive of others. Be sensitive to those who are going through particularly difficult times and don’t press for people to speak if they’re uncomfortable doing so.
11. Are you comfortable with the military imagery in the Bible? Why or why not? What are some of the battles you’ve been facing lately? In what ways are you trusting God for victory in these battles? What would victory look like to you? What might it look like to God?
12. The Israelites had to confront their fears when preparing for the battle at Jericho. What are some fears you’re wresthng with today? How do these fears affect your ability to live the life God desires for you? How can God’s assurance help you overcome your fears? What are other ways you can confront your fears?
13. Do you have difficulty knowing when to be quiet and when to speak up? Explain. How would you have felt about God’s command for silence during the Jericho story? How has staying silent served you well in the past? How has speaking up when you should be quiet gotten you into trouble? Where can you seek wisdom for when to be quiet and when to speak up?
Going Forward
14. Think of one or two things you have learned that you’d like to work on in the coming week. Remember that this is all about quality, not quantity. It’s better to work on one specific area of life and do it well than to work on many and do poorly (or to be so overwhelmed that you simply don’t try).
Do you want to cultivate trust in God as you face something you fear? Be specific. Go back through Joshua 6 and put a star next to the phrase or verse that is most encouraging to you. Consider memorizing this verse.
Real-Life Application Ideas: A big theme in the battle of Jericho is patience. Think about one or more long-term goals you have in life—whether work-or family-related. For example, this could be a desire to own your own business someday or move your family to a new home. Now think about the steps it will take to make your goal happen. Where does patience fit into the plan? When should you act and when should you wait? How might “be patient” work as an action step in your plan? Work on that plan. Don’t forget to spend time in patient prayer and counsel with others as you work toward your goals.
Seeking Help
15. Write a prayer below (or simply pray one in silence), inviting God to work on your mind and heart in those areas you’ve noted above. Be honest about your desires and fears.
Notes for Small Groups:
• Look for ways to put into practice the things you wrote in the Going Forward section. Talk with other group members about your ideas and commit to being accountable to one another.
• During the coming week, ask the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal truth to you from what you’ve read and studied.
• Before you start the next lesson, read Joshua 7—8. For more in-depth lesson preparation, read chapters 7 and 8, “Defeat in the Land of Victory” and “Turning Defeat into Victory,” in Be Strong.