Unit 6: Life of Joshua OT6.4 The Battle of Jericho Lesson · 2017. 12. 19. · 2 OT6.4 The Battle of Jericho ©Beverly Wilson 2017 Joshua had sent two spies into the city of Jericho

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OT6.4 The Battle of Jericho ©Beverly Wilson 2017

Unit 6: Life of Joshua OT6.4 The Battle of Jericho Lesson

Scripture: Joshua 6

Lesson Goal: Joshua was a leader of God's people. God chose him to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land. As the children of Israel prepared to conquer the Promised Land, they faced a very strong obstacle, the huge fortified city of Jericho. In this lesson we will learn how God performed a miracle and gave them a great victory.

Introduction: This is fourth lesson in Unit 6: Life of Joshua. As the children of Israel prepared to conquer the Promised Land, they faced a very strong obstacle, the huge fortified city of Jericho. In this lesson we will learn how God performed a miracle and gave them a great victory. This lesson is found in the book of Joshua. Joshua is the first Book of History in the Old Testament and was written by Joshua himself. This book tells the history of Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land. Let’s say the Old Testament Books of history together—Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, I Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.

Attention Getter: “Obstacles” Have you ever tried to jump hurdles? Hurdles are like fences that runners must jump over in a race. This girl is trying to trying to cross a hanging bar by swinging with her hands. That can be hard to do! These kids are attempting to climb a wall with hooks. This would be like going up the side of a rocky mountain. All of these are examples of things that might be in an obstacle race. What is an obstacle? It is something that stands in the way. An obstacle can be a hurdle, a blockage, or an obstruction. Sometimes it is a problem that has a difficult solution or path to get to the answer. In this lesson we are going to learn about a very large obstacle that the Israelites faced as they entered into the Promised Land. This was the huge walled city of Jericho. The children of Israel had to have great faith in the power of God to help them overcome! Alternative: Divide the children in the class into two groups and give each group a stack of playing cards. Have each group try to build the biggest house of cards. Say: “The house of cards is nothing like the walls of Jericho that God were town down to give victory in battle to the Israelites.”

Opening Prayer: “Father, there are many obstacles in our lives that keep us from living lives that are pleasing before You. But today we’ve been encouraged to have faith in Your word and to obey You, even when we don’t fully understand why You ask us to do the things You do. Please help us to trust and obey You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Memory Verse: The memory verse is Proverbs 3: 5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge the Lord and He will make your paths straight."

Lesson Video: https://youtu.be/0WG3ZqaBB5g Joshua and the Israelites had just come from the East side of the Jordan River. They were headed to the city of Jericho. In the city of Jericho were many people who did obey God. They worshipped idols instead of the true God. And, because they believed in false gods, God wanted the children of Israel to destroy them.

https://youtu.be/0WG3ZqaBB5g

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Joshua had sent two spies into the city of Jericho to spy out the enemy. They said that everyone in the city was afraid of the nation of Israel. In the city of Jericho was a woman named Rahab. She had heard about the God of the Israelites and believed in Him. Rahab risked her life by hiding the spies on her roof and helping them escape. She lowered them down on a rope out her window which was in the wall of the city. In exchange for her help, the spies had promised Rahab that she and her family would be saved when Joshua and the Israelite army entered the city. She was to hang a red rope out her window to show which house was hers. Before the Israelites could attack the city of Jericho and enter into the Promised Land, Joshua had to get the people across the Jordan River. God told Joshua to have the priests carry the Ark of the Covenant to the edge of the water. When the priests obeyed God and their feet touched the edge of the river, God miraculously opened up the Jordan River. God held back the river with a wall of water and the people crossed over on dry land. What an amazing thing! God wanted the people to remember this miraculous crossing by having twelve men take twelve stones from the riverbed and stack them up as a memorial. When future generations would see the stone memorial they would be reminded of God’s great power in causing the river Jordan to stop flowing downstream. They would know that God had great power and would protect His people. Now Joshua and the Israelites were ready to take the whole land but doing this would not be easy. The Canaanites lived in the Promised Land and they had strong armies ready to fight anyone who tried to enter their cities. They had built strong cities with huge thick walls around them. The first city the Israelites had to conquer was Jericho. Jericho was a beautiful city with springs of water and many palm trees. It was known as the “City of Palms”. But, Jericho was built like a fortress. It had huge double walls around it – making it one of the strongest of the walled cities. The walls were so thick and strong that houses were built right into the walls! One evening Joshua left the Israelite camp to go off by himself to pray and look over the city of Jericho to decide how to best have his army take the city. Jericho would not be an easy city to conquer. The people of Jericho even had their own army. The people of Jericho knew the Israelites were coming, so they shut the gates to the city and waited for the battle to begin. Their soldiers were standing ready to fight and they were counting on the thick walls of their city and the protection of their false gods to win the fight. Jericho was a BIG obstacle. God wanted the people of Jericho to know that He was the true God and the One to be worshipped not their false gods of wood and stone. Suddenly, as Joshua was thinking about this situation he raised his head, he saw Someone standing by him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua reached for his own sword as he moved away from the Person. "Are you friend or foe?" Joshua asked. "Neither," said the other Person, "I am Captain of the Lord's host." Then Joshua realized that this was not just another man, but the Commander of God's army of angels. It was Jesus Christ Himself! Then God told Joshua to take off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. Remember? This was just like the Lord had told Moses to do at the burning bush. Jesus the Captain of God's army was here to give Joshua directions on how to fight this battle. How amazing this must have been for Joshua! Joshua said, "Lord, the city of Jericho is surrounded by a huge, thick wall. The gates to the city are shut tight and guarded closely." "Joshua, I have handed the city of Jericho over to you. I have also handed its king and its fighting men over to you."

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“What shall we do, Lord?” “March around the city once with all of your fighting men. In fact, do this for six days. Have seven priests get trumpets made from rams' horns. These priests will carry the trumpets in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times. On this day, have the priests blow the trumpets as you march. When you hear a long blast on the trumpets, tell all of the men to give a loud shout. The wall of the city will fall down and the whole army will go into the city.” Yes, Lord, we will do as you have commanded.” “Priests, go and get the ark of the covenant of the Lord. We are going to march with the ark around Jericho. And, I want seven of you to carry trumpets in front of the ark. We will do what you tell us, Joshua.” Soldiers, you will move out! March around the city. Some of you will march in front of the ark of the Lord. Some of you will march behind the ark. The ark must be guarded by all of you.” “Yes, sir, Joshua.” “Do not give a war cry. Do not raise your voices. Do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then you will shout!” “Yes, sir, Joshua.” The soldiers did as they were told. They marched around Jericho for seven days. Then Joshua said: “Okay, men. For seven days have we marched around the city of Jericho. Today, we have marched around the city six times. Now we will march around the city wall one more time. But this time, priests, you will blow a long blast on the trumpets.” “We will do this, Joshua.” “Soldiers, shout! The Lord has given you the city! Shout to the Lord!” These were very unusual battle plans, weren’t they! What do you think Joshua thought when he heard these instructions? I’m sure that Joshua thought this would be a very strange way to conquer a city. But he trusted God, so he passed the orders on to the people. And the Israelites listened to Joshua and got ready to do exactly what God had told them to do. The Israelites were to march around the city in a great procession. Soldiers were to be at the front, then seven priests with trumpets of ram’s horns, followed by more priests carrying the ark of the covenant (the wooden chest that held God’s law). As the Israelites marched around the city of Jericho, the priests blew their horns; the only noise was the sound of the horns and the stomp, stomp, stomp of thousands of marching feet! No one said a word. Six days in a row the people marched silently around the city of Jericho one time, just as God had told them to do. Everyone in the city must have heard the sound of the trumpets and watched as the Israelites walked around their city walls in silence. They probably were terrified as they kept waiting for the attack to begin.

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On the seventh day the procession marched around the city once like they had done the previous six days, but instead of going back to camp, the people kept walking. They marched around the city seven times and then stopped! At the end of the seventh lap when the priests sounded a long blast on their trumpets, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! Only Rahab and her family are to be spared. No one is to take anything belonging to the people of Jericho because it all belongs to the Lord.” When the trumpets blasted and the army shouted, the walls of the city collapsed! Suddenly the big, tall walls of Jericho crumbled and fell down and the army of Israelites marched straight in, just as God had told them to do! The army charged in over the ruins and took the city. God told Joshua and his army to destroy Jericho and all the people in it because they had put their faith in false gods. Joshua and his men obeyed God and killed all the people of the city. Joshua ordered the two spies to find Rehab’s house, marked with a scarlet cord in the window, and led her and her family to safety. From that day on Rhab and her family lived with the Israelites. Rahab had trusted in God’s power and she and her family were saved from destruction. The army was forbidden to loot anything they found in the city because God had said that everything was devoted or belonged to Him. They were warned that looting would bring trouble on them and the whole camp. The items made of gold, silver, bronze, and iron were carried out of the city and put in the treasury of the Lord. The city was then set on fire. News of this amazing victory soon spread to all the people in the land of Canaan and everyone knew that the Lord was with Joshua. What a mighty God we serve! He can make the walls of a strong city fall! What joy Rahab and her family must have had on that day! How glad she must have been that she had helped save the spies! Eventually Rahab would marry an Israelite man named Salmon. They would have a son was Boaz who would later marry Ruth. Many generations later Jesus Christ our Savior would be born into this family! So not only did God work a miracle in saving the nation of Israel from their enemies--he saved the ancestors of Jesus! God’s strange plans to attack the city of Jericho would not make any sense to most commanders of an army. But the Israelites listened to God and trusted Him. They obeyed and God gave them the victory! We often have fears, frustrations, and problems in our lives that stand as obstacles and keep us from living a life that is pleasing to God. These are like the walls of Jericho. Many of the commands in the Bible can seem hard to understand. We may wonder why God wants us to do things like be kind to people we don’t even like or forgive people who are mean to us. But it’s important for us to obey God just as He requests. Then God will give us victory just like He took down the walls of Jericho! When we choose to obey God’s commands, even the ones that we don’t understand, we are showing that we trust God. Our memory verse is Proverbs 3: 5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge the Lord and He will make your paths straight." Remember, God only wants the best for us, so we must always obey God. He deserves our complete trust. Let’s say our memory verse again together. Proverbs 3: 5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge the Lord and He will make your paths straight." Remember let's obey God and trust His plans for us!

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Review Questions: “Straws and Paper Squares” Preparation: Each student will need a 2 inch paper square, straws, and scissors. Number the paper squares consecutively from 1-22. Each number corresponds to a review question. Procedure: Display the paper squares on a table across the room from the students. Be sure you have at least one square per child. Give a straw to each student. Students line up across from the room from the table of paper squares. At your signal the first student runs across the room to the table and places straw in mouth and suck so that the paper square adheres to the bottom of the straw. Then student walks quickly back to the line, still sucking to hold square to straw. Once he or she returns to the line, the student removes the paper from the straw and holds onto it. The student then tells what number is on the straw. The number will correspond to a review question below. If the student answers the question correctly they get to keep their square. The student with the most paper squares wins the game.

1. What river did the children of Israel have to cross in order to enter the Promised Land? (They had to cross the Jordan River.)

2. How had God already demonstrated His power to the Israelites? (He caused the river Jordan to stop flowing downstream so they could cross the riverbed on dry ground.)

3. What did God tell Joshua to build to help the children of Israel remember His great power? (God told Joshua to choose twelve men to collect stones from the dry riverbed and stack them in a heap to remind the Israelites how God had performed a great miracle in leading them into the Promised Land.)

4. What did Joshua do to check out the city of Jericho? (He sent two spies into the city secretly to find out about the fortification and what the people of Jericho believed about Israel.)

5. Who helped save the spies from the soldiers? (Rahab the prostitute believed in God and helped save the spies by hiding them on her roof and then helping them escape by letting down a rope out her window.)

6. What promise did the spies make to Rahab for helping them? (They promised to save Rhab and her family when they conquered the city.)

7. What did Rahab have to do to show where her house was on the day of the battle? (She had to let a scarlet rope hang out her window.)

8. While Joshua was thinking and praying about entering into the Promised Land who appeared to him? (Jesus appeared to Joshua as a great warrior King.)

9. What did the warrior Jesus tell Joshua to do to fight the battle of Jericho? (He told him to have the priests march around the city with the Ark of the Covenant and blow trumpet horns once for seven days and then seven times on the seventh day. They were then to shout praise to God and the walls of the city would fall down.)

10. What were Joshua and his men to do after the walls of the city fell? (They were to kill all the people except Rahab and her family.)

11. What were the Israelites warned not to do? (They were not to take anything for themselves from the city by looting.)

12. What were the men of Israel to do with the city’s gold, silver, bronze, iron, and other valuables? (These were all to be taken to the tabernacle and given to God as a way of thanksgiving for His victory in the battle.)

13. Why did God have the Israelites blow trumpets? (The blowing of trumpets had special significance. These were the same horns that were used in their religious festivals. It reminded the people that it was the Lord who would give them victory not their own military might.”)

14. How did Joshua show that he trusted in God’s commands? (He completely obeyed God by carrying God’s battle plans exactly as he was told.)

15. What happened because the Israelites obeyed and did things God’s way? (God gave them victory in conquering the city of Jericho by working a miracle of making the walls fall down.)

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16. What happened to Rahab and her family after the Battle of Jericho? (They came to live with the Israelites.)

17. What happened to Rahab later? (She married Salmon. They would have a son was Boaz who would later marry Ruth. Many generations later Jesus Christ our Savior would be born into this family!)

18. How could a child that is your age show that he or she trusts God with all of his or her heart when he or she is at home or school? (Answers will vary.)

19. When might other children your age think that doing things God’s way is silly or wrong? (Examples: When everyone is teasing an unpopular kid and you know God wants you to be kind. When another kid is stealing from a store and others think that it is cool or a fun thing to do. When another kid is doing something dangerous and you think that you should tell an adult about it. When a friend has the answers to a hard test that you have to take and you don’t want to cheat.)

20. Why is it a good idea to obey God’s commands? (They are the best way to live. God always knows what is best. We will have to answer to God’s judgment someday.)

21. What good things might happen when a child your age does things God’s way? (Other people will trust him or her. Others will respect him or her. That person won’t have to worry about getting caught doing something wrong. That person will know that God is happy with her or his actions.)

22. What is our memory verse? (Proverbs 3: 5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge the Lord and He will make your paths straight.")

Bible Memory Verse Activity: “Musical Chairs Share” Have students locate memory verse in scripture and read aloud several times. Say: “Our memory verse is Proverbs 3: 5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge the Lord and He will make your paths straight." Remember, God only wants the best for us, so we must always obey God. He deserves our complete trust. Our Bible Verse means that we need to obey Him. To obey means to listen and follow directions. Who should we listen to? (God, parents, teachers, babysitters, etc) When our parents and others want us to obey, they know what is best for us. God has given us parents to keep us safe and guide us in our life.” Preparation: You will need Bibles, CD of a song, index cards, permanent markers, and one chair for each student, masking tape and paper bag. On separate index cards print the following instructions: Say memory verse Proverbs 3: 5-6; tell something good about obeying God; and tell a situation in which to obey God; and answer a question. Create one instruction card for each child repeating instructions as needed. Tape one card to the bottom of each chair. Number separate index cards and tape to the back of the chairs. Make a second set of identically numbered cards and place in a paper bag. Arrange chairs in a circle with the seats facing outward. Procedure: Lead the students in a game like musical chairs. Students form a large circle around the chairs. Play CD music as students march around the chairs. When music stops students sit in the chairs nearest them. Select and show a number from the paper bag. Student sitting in the chair with that number removed the card from the bottom of his or her chair and follows the instruction printed on the card. Use review questions for the student who card reads, “Answer a question.” After completing the task on the card, student and teacher replace cards. Repeat as time permits.

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Group Learning Activity: “Make a Brick Wall” (Grades K-5) Purpose: To help students visualize how the bricks in the wall of Jericho fell. Say: “In this lesson we learned that God caused the walls of Jericho to collapse so the Israelites could win the battle. Walls that were built around the cities during that time were made of clay bricks dried in the sun. Today we are going to all make bricks like those in the wall.” Preparation: Depending on the technique you choose for making a brick wall you will need newspaper sheets, grocery bags, small juice or milk cartons, grass clippings, dirt and water, cardboard boxes, Solo red 16 oz. plastic cups or Lego bricks. Procedure: Choose one of the following ways to make bricks.

Paper bag bricks: Students will work together to crumple newspaper sheets, and stuff them into paper grocery bags and slip empty bags over the open ends of the filled bags to creat paper bag bricks. Secure the bags together with tape. Have students stack all their bricks into a wall and then for fun someone can cause the “brick wall” to tumble!

Mud Bricks: Bring to class one juice box or small milk carton for each student. Cut off tops of boxes or cartons to make molds for bricks. Students break handfuls of straw or grass into short pieces and place them in a wading pool or large container. Next students take turns adding dirt and water, one cup at a time to straw or grass clippings. Add more straw or grass clippings and more dirt and water to form a dough-like consistency. Students scoop up mixture and firmly pack it into brick molds. Allow bricks to dry in the sun or in a 200

o oven for several hours. Students then carefully cut molds

away from the bricks.

Empty cardboard boxes Bricks: Collect a variety of empty cereal or packing boxes. Have students tape the ends of the boxes together and cover with brown wrapping paper. Use black markers to draw bricks on the sides of the boxes. Have students build a wall to reenact the story. Knock down the “wall” at the end.

Lego Bricks: Provide students with Lego bricks and have students work together to build a wall. Have them retell the story using the Lego people. Make sure there is a red cord in Rahab’s window.

Solo Plastic Cup Wall: Use 16 oz. plastic red cups to be the bricks in a wall that students build. The cups can be stacked as high as desired and are great fun to “tumble down.”

While students work, review the events in the story and ask the following discussion questions: Say: “How did Joshua show that he trusted in God’s commands? (He completely obeyed God by carrying God’s battle plans exactly as he was told.) What happened because the Israelites obeyed and did things God’s way? (God gave them victory in conquering the city of Jericho by working a miracle of making the walls fall down.) How could a child that is your age show that he or she trusts God with all of his or her heart when he or she is at home or school? (Answers will vary.) When might other children your age think that doing things God’s way is silly or wrong? (Examples: When everyone is teasing an unpopular kid and you know God wants you to be kind. When another kid is stealing from a store and others think that it is cool or a fun thing to do. When another kid is doing something dangerous and you think that you should tell an adult about it. When a friend has the answers to a hard test that you have to take and you don’t want to cheat.) Why is it a good idea to obey God’s commands? (They are the best way to live. God always knows what is best. We will have to answer to God’s judgment someday.)”

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Group Learning Activity: Reenact the “Battle of Jericho” (Grades K-4) Purpose: To help students visualize the Bible lesson Preparation: You will need cardboard tubes, old sheets, permanent markers, and masking tape. Procedure: Divide the class into two groups and have the groups sit on opposite sides of the room. Explain that Group 1 is the “Israelites” and Group 2 is the “Walls of Jericho.” Give group 1 cardboard tubes and markers. Instruct the children to make “trumpets” by decorating the cardboard tubes. Hand out the old sheets and additional markers to Group 2. Encourage the children to dray large stones on the sheets to make it look like the walls of a city. When the groups are finished decorating, have the “Walls” stand up and hold their sheets around them. Instruct the “Israelites” to form a line and march around the “walls”. You may want to have them sing the song, “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho” while they march. Tell children to pretend it’s the seventh day in the story and to count out loud as they march around the “Walls” seven times blowing their trumpets. When they complete the final time around, have them shout. Then signal the “Walls” to fall down. Conclusion: Say:”How do you think the Israelites felt when they marched around the walls? (They were excited to see what God would do. They were frightened of the Jericho soldiers.) How did they see God’s power on the seventh day? (The walls of the city of Jericho fell down.) When have you seen God’s power in your life? (Answers will vary.) Attach the wall sheets to a wall in your classroom. Have children use markers to draw or write their fears, frustrations, and problems on the wall sheets. Say: “The Israelites might have been afraid of the people in the mighty walled city of Jericho. But when they followed God’s instructions, they saw that He was more powerful than anything including their problems. God is more powerful than our problems, too. Let’s shout and watch them fall down.” Lead children in shouting and then pull the sheets off the wall. Optional: Choose two or three students to plan and practice sound effects for the reenactment such as marching feet, sounding horn, falling wall, shouting people, rumbling earthquake, etc.) Students can practice sound effects as groups are preparing the horns and walls. Provide items for students to use in making sound effects such as kazoos, paper plates, wooden blocks, and aluminum pans or cookie sheets.

Group Learning Activity: “March around Jericho” (Grades K-3) Procedure: Form two groups of children. Direct the children in the first group to stand side by side to create a wall. Say: “We are going to pretend today that these boys and girls are the wall that protects the city of Jericho.” Lead the second group of kids to march around the first group silently six times. Count each time around aloud. Say: “For six days the Israelites marched silently around the walls of Jericho. Then on the seventh day, how many times did they march around the walls? (seven) We are going to march around the wall of Jericho seven times now. Then when I give you the signal, those marching should shout and those pretending to be the wall should lie down, just like the walls of Jericho fell. Are you ready?” Direct the kids to march silently around the wall six times. Count each time around aloud to help the kids keep track. Then on the seventh time around, give the signal for the marchers to shout and the kids pretending to be the wall to lay down. Repeat as time allows. Conclude: “Joshua, Rahab, the two spies, and the Israelites trusted and obeyed God. Like them, we should trust and obey God.”

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Group Learning Activity: “Potato Experiment” Object Lesson (Grades K-5) Purpose: To illustrate the fact that although we might understand God’s plan for our lives we can trust Him to do what is best. Preparation: You will need 2 plastic drinking straw and a raw potato. Be sure to use a straight, sturdy straw for this experiment. Do not use a flexible straw. Procedure: Say: “Who would like to try to push this straw through this potato?” (Allow students to try.) “It seems like there is no way this straw can push through this potato. That reminds me of the battle of Jericho. It seemed like there was no easy way for God’s people to break through those strong walls.” Set the potato on a hard surface. Using a new straw place your thumb over the hole at the top of the straw and push the straw deep into the potato. Covering the top of the straw with your thumb will trap air inside, forcing it to compress as you stab the straw through the potato. Say: “How many of you were surprised I was able to push this straw through this potato?” (Allow kids to answer.) “Sometimes God’s plans are like that. They seem pretty peculiar. The Israelites trusted and obeyed God’s special plan, and the walls of Jericho fell down. We should trust and obey God too even when we don’t completely understand His plans.”

Group Learning Activity: Bible Study: “Obeying God” (Grades 3-5) Preparation: You will need Bibles, spiritual journals or individual notebooks, pens and pencils. Procedure: Have students look up the following scripture references. Use the following questions to lead a discussion about the verses.

Read Proverbs 3:1-2 “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.” Say: What does it mean to keep God’s commands in your heart? (It means to memorize God’s Word so you know what God wants you to do in every situation. You don’t need to search for answers. It also means to have a tender heart that is willing to obey God.) What does verse 2 name as benefits of obeying God’s commands? (Your life will be long and full of peace and prosperity.)

Read Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” What do

these verses say that God will do when we trust Him? (He will make our paths straight.”) Why is a straight path better than a crooked path? (It is shorter and easier to follow.) What does it mean to say that God will make our paths straight? (God will guide and direct us in the right way to live.)

Read Romans 13: 9-10 “The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”

and whatever other command there may

be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no

harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” How does obeying the command to love our neighbor help us to obey all the other commands in these verses? (If we love someone we won’t murder, steal, or covet what they have.) What can we do to show love to others? (Be kind and considerate. Treat them like we would want to be treated.)

Read Ephesians 4:29 “ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only

what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” How can you obey God with what you say? (You will say kind things that encourage others. You will not be mean or sassy.) When is hard for you to remember to obey this command? (When people are unkind to us. When others do not treat us fairly. When we get angry and just want to get back at others.)

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Have students summarize what they have learned by writing in their spiritual journals. Encourage students to share their thoughts with the group only if they desire.

Group Learning Activity: “Circle Ball” (Grades K-5) Purpose: To provide a large muscle game activity that simulates how the Israelites marched around the city of Jericho. Preparation: You will need two identical balls of any size. Say: “In this lesson we learned that the Israelites had to carefully follow God’s instructions in the battle plan. They were to march around the city and then give a shout. We are going to play a game that will help us remember that God gave the victory to Israel because they carefully followed His plan.” Procedure: Divide the players into two equal teams and appoint a captain for each team. Each team forms a circle and the distance between players should be determined by the throwing and catching skills of the players. When a starting signal is given, the captain passes the ball to the player on his right as quickly as possible who passes it on, etc. The captain calls out one, to signify that the ball has been passed successfully around the circle once. The captain counts out each round as it is completed. Upon completion of the seventh round, the captain raises the ball high over his head and shouts Seven! to indicate that the team has finished. The first team to finish 7 rounds wins the game. Variations: For younger children it is simpler to roll the ball, hand the ball, or bounce the ball to the next person. For more skilled players, the methods of passing can be varied with added motions. The first round could be a normal pass, the second between legs, and the third a bounce then pass, etc. Standing on one foot or keeping eyes closed while passing could also be added. If a player makes a mistake in the order of motions, the ball must be returned to the start and that round begins again.

Group Learning Activity: “Paper War” (Grades K-5) Preparation: You will need a stack of old newspapers to wad up to use as ammunition and classroom chairs. Procedure: Divide the class into two teams. Make a “wall” for each team by placing 4 or 5 chairs in a row for them to hide behind. Tell them they may wad up paper and throw paper at the other team (but caution them to be careful not to throw too hard). The teacher should help one team for the first half then go help the other team. When it is time to stop and you have their attention, ask what it was like to have the teacher on your team. Ask what would happen if the teacher took down one of the “walls.” Compare this activity to the Bible lesson about Jericho. What is it like to have God on our side helping us in our battles? (God fight our battles and He much stronger than we are.) As we reflect on the battle of Jericho, we see important lessons. One, there is no obstacle too great when God is for us and with us. Two, God’s promises often still require our responsibilities; we must both trust and obey. Three, faith holds onto the things that are “not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Trust and obedience should not require our understanding; God’s ways are not man’s ways. Let us not complain, murmur, and question.

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Group Learning Activity: “Seven Spins” (Grades K-4) Preparation: You will need two chairs or obstacles for students to run around. Clear enough space for a relay race with the two chairs or obstacles for students to run around. Procedure: Form two teams. Tell students that this will be a relay race. The first person will run across the room, run around their team’s chair seven times, then return to the group, tagging the next person in line to run. After the game, say “Some directions may seem strange to us, like the directions that Joshua heard. But when God gives the directions we can always trust Him. The most important thing for us to do is to obey. Remember that when we truly trust God we will obey Him completely.

Craft Learning Activity: “Jericho Battle Horns” (Grades K-3) Preparation: Print the horn template below on heavy poster board or cardstock. Students will need colored marking pens or crayons and scissors. Procedure: Give each child a sheet of the printed horn below. Have children color the horn with crayons or colored marking pens. Have students use scissors to cut out on the heavy outline. Have students roll the horn from the corner of the paper to the other to look like a horn blowing at the Battle of Jericho. Secure with tape or a paper stapler. A thin rope or piece of yarn can to glued or taped to each end of the horn to form a strap to carry the horn across the shoulders. While students are working on their horns, ask the following questions: “Why do you think it was important for the children of Israel to obey God? (Obedience shows our faith in God.) Why did God have the Israelites blow trumpets? (The blowing of trumpets had special significance. These were the same horns that were used in their religious festivals. It reminded the people that it was the Lord who would give them victory not their own military might.”) Optional: Simplified horns can be made from a 24 oz. foam cup. Cut out the bottom of the cup to form the mouth piece. Children can decorate the paper cup with paper stickers or fun foam stickers. Glue on a copy of the memory verse to the side of the horn. Optional: Make horns from empty paper towel rolls (one per child); Wax paper squares

Rubber bands (one per child); Pencils, Markers and crayons. Help the children make horns.

Let them each decorate a paper towel tube with markers and crayons. Place a square of wax

paper on one end of the tube and secure it with a rubber band. Use a pencil to poke a hole in

the wax paper. Show children how to blow the horns like kazoos.

Craft Learning Activity: “Joshua Shield” (Grades K-3) Purpose: To help students remember that God is their protector and helper. Preparation: Students will need a large sheet of poster board, aluminum foil, foam stickers (stars or letters), scissors, and a stapler. Procedure: Help students draw the shape of a shield on a piece of poster board. Cut the shield shape out with scissors. Cut another strip of poster board for the handle of the shield. Staple the handle to the back of the shield with two staples. Cut and cover the shield with a piece of aluminum foil. Stick the foam letters onto the shield spelling the word COURAGE. Decorate the shield with the foam stars.

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Say: “In Joshua 1: 9 the Lord promised Joshua that He would be with him and give him victory. He said, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord you God will be with you wherever you go.” How was the Lord with Joshua at the Battle of Jericho? (God appeared to him as an Angel Warrior and gave Joshua the battle plans. God used miracles in parting the river Jordan so this would encourage Joshua to trust Him again at Jericho. God wanted Joshua to trust in Him.) Does having courage mean that we might not have some fears? (No, having courage means that we act and trust God in spite of our fears. We overcome by leaning on God to work in behalf of us.) When are sometimes that you will need courage at home? At school? At games? How might God work in your behalf? (He will bring to remembrance His Word to help you know the right thing to do. He will give you strength to overcome temptation to do wrong. He will give you peace in the face of trouble.)

Craft Learning Activity: “Shoebox Diorama” Preparation: Each child will need an empty shoe box. Print two copies of the Walls of Jericho template for each child. You will need scissors, colored markers, crayons, glue, and a red piece of yarn. Procedure: Give each child an empty shoe box. Have students color the wall of Jericho and cut out the walls of Jericho. Glue the walls to the outside sides of the shoe box. Have students draw houses and people to stand on the walls. Have students hang a red piece of yarn from one of the windows in the wall to be Rahab’s home. (Make sure the door in the city wall is closed.) Optional: Print the review questions from above on individual note cards. Place the cards in the shoe box diorama box. Have students take turns drawing out a review question about the lesson. Students can answer the questions for one point. Students with the most points wins the game.

Craft Learning Activity: “Courage Zipper Pull” (Grades 3-5) Purpose: To make a zipper pull to put on students’ book bags or gym bags to help them remember that God can give them courage to obey Him at all times. Preparation: Students will need a bead string, alphabet beads, and metal key rings. Procedure: Have students knot three strands of bead string together by tying them to a metal key ring. Tape the short ends of the bead string to a table and braid at least 2 inches. Then string beads onto one of the strands to spell the word “courage.” Twist the other two strands together until they meet the third strand at the end of the beads. Continue to braid all three strands for another two inches. Knot the three strands and trim to the desired length. Say: “In Joshua 1: 9 the Lord promised Joshua that He would be with him and give him victory. He said, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord you God will be with you wherever you go.” How was the Lord with Joshua at the Battle of Jericho? (God appeared to him as an Angel Warrior and gave Joshua the battle plans. God used miracles in parting the river Jordan so this would encourage Joshua to trust Him again at Jericho. God wanted Joshua to trust in Him.) Does having courage mean that we might not have some fears? (No, having courage means that we act and trust God in spite of our fears. We overcome by leaning on God to work in behalf of us.) When are sometimes that you will need courage at home? At school? At games? How might God work in your behalf? (He will bring to remembrance His Word to help you know the right thing to do. He will give you strength to overcome temptation to do wrong. He will give you peace in the face of trouble.) Put this zipper pull on your book bag to help you remember that God can give you courage to obey Him.

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Craft Learning Activity: “Craft Stick Crosses” Purpose: To make a visual reminder of the red cord that Rahab put in her window and its symbolism of the cross of Christ as our salvation. Preparation: You will need craft sticks, glue, red yarn and scissors. Procedure: Give each child two craft sticks and a piece of red yarn. Direct the kids to glue the craft sticks together in the shape of a cross. Tell the students to wind the yarn around the craft stick cross several times, first from right to left diagonally, then left to right so that the yearn creates an “x” shape in the center of the cross. Have them glue the final yarn end to the back of the cross to hold it in place. Or tuck the end of the yarn under the wraps of the yarn and pull tightly to form a knot. Say: “Rahab’s life was saved because she chose to trust and obey God by hanging a scarlet rope cord out of her window. Like Rahab God wants to save us and give us eternal life. That’s why He gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. And that’s why we should trust and obey God. Snack Learning Activity: “Jericho Cake” Purpose: To encourage children to recall the faith that the Israelites placed in God when He caused the walls of Jericho to fall. Procedure: Bake a cake and add some frosting to the top. Use any flavor of icing. Add green frosting to make green grass. Add some cookies or graham crackers for walls. You can add icing in between the graham crackers if you want. Add two large pretzel sticks in the back. Then place some monopoly houses all over. You can make this and take it for Children's Church or Sunday school. Teach the kids about Joshua and the battle of Jericho in the bible.

Life Application Challenge: “Red Ribbon” Preparation: You will need a roll of red ribbon long enough to reach around a circle of students holding hands. Each child will also need a short piece of red ribbon approximately 6”-8” long. Procedure: Ask everyone to stand in a circle and hold a long piece of ribbon so that everyone in the circle is connected to each other. Tell the students to think about God’s strength and His ability to help them. Remind students how God helped the Israelites defeat their enemy when He caused the walls of Jericho to fall. Suggest that the red ribbon they are holding in the circle is like the ribbon or cord that Rahab hung out her window on the day of the Battle of Jericho. Say: “We are going to close our class today with prayer. We want to focus on God’s strength and how He saves us. I am going to begin the prayer by saying, “God, you are my strength because…” As many of you as can are to complete the sentence as a prayer of thanksgiving. You might say “because You helped me with my test;” “because You sent Jesus to earth;” “because You helped my brother or sister to get well;” etc.” Allow time for children to pray aloud if they felt led. Close with your own ending to the sentence. Encourage children to share what they have learned with their family or a friend during the next week. Give each child a short strip of red ribbon to remind them of Rahab’s faith and obedience to God and to remember what they have learned in order to share with others.

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Joshua and the Battle of Jericho

Proverbs 3: 5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge the Lord and He will make your paths straight."

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Documents

Unit 6: Life of Joshua OT6.4 The Battle of Jericho Lesson · 2017. 12. 19. · 2 OT6.4 The Battle of Jericho ©Beverly Wilson 2017 Joshua had sent two spies into the city of Jericho