The Power of Obedience: Israel’s First Steps in the Promised Land

One territorial possession in the book of Joshua that really stands out is the conquest of Jericho. This moment is not just about military victory, but about obedience and faith in God’s promises. God commanded Joshua and the Israelites to march around the city once a day for six days and seven times on the seventh day, then shout so the walls would fallâ€an unconventional battle plan by any standard. Their victory wasn’t because of military might, but because they trusted and obeyed God completely, even when the strategy didn’t make logical sense.

Joshua 6:2-5 records God’s instructions:
Then the Lord said to Joshua, 'See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days... On the seventh day, march around the city seven times... Have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in.'

Their obedience led to a miraculous victory, showing that God’s promises are fulfilled when His people trust and follow Him. But this same story also highlights the consequences of disobedience. After Jericho, Achan’s hidden sin caused Israel to lose the next battle at Ai, a much smaller city (Joshua 7:1, 4-5). This failure came because someone violated God’s command, proving that even small acts of disobedience can have wide-reaching effects.

Joshua 7:12 summarizes the lesson:
That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

The capture of Jericho and the failure at Ai together show how Israel’s possession of the land depended on their faithfulness to God. When they trusted and obeyed, God gave victory. When they disobeyed, they faced defeat. These stories remind us that true success comes from following God wholeheartedly, not relying on our own strength or understanding.