Read Scripture
Read all or parts of Joshua 2–4; 6 from your Bible or watch the Bible story video.
Preschool Bible Story Video
Elementary Bible Story Video
Talk About Scripture
Have you ever participated in a trust fall? This is when a person stands in a chair and falls backward into the arms of a few people waiting to catch them. It can be very scary to trust others to catch you. One way to make a trust fall easier is to select people you know can be trusted to catch you—like your parents or guardians. Falling backward to them is easier because you know they love you and want to protect you.
To enter the land God promised them, the Israelites had to first defeat the city of Jericho. This would not be an ordinary battle. This battle was all about trust. God gave Joshua specific (and very strange) instructions for how to conquer the city.
Joshua sent spies into Jericho to see what it was like. They were housed and protected by a woman named Rahab. In exchange for her kindness, Rahab asked the Israelites to keep her safe when they conquered the city, so the spies promised to keep her and her family safe.
Joshua and the Israelites followed God’s instructions by marching around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day, the Israelite army marched around the city seven times, and the priests blew their trumpets loudly. As the people shouted, the walls of Jericho fell to the ground. The whole city was destroyed, but Rahab and her family were saved.
It can be hard for us to trust God, especially when we don’t understand what He is doing. Even in those moments, we can know that God is good and that He is in control. The Israelites and Rahab trusted God would win the battle, and He delivered!
God's people could not bring down Jericho's walls in their own power. They trusted God and were victorious. We cannot defeat sin and death in our own power. When we trust in Jesus, we are saved from sin and death.
Pray: Lord, help us trust that You are good and always in control. We know that Your plans will never fail, and we thank you most of all for Your plan to send Jesus so everyone who trusts in Him will be saved! Amen.
Learn Scripture
Preschool Scripture Music Video
Elementary Scripture Music Video
Family Prayer
Mornings: Ask God to give you guidance as you interact with others, make wise choices, and follow Him. How does God give us instructions for living for Him? Why is it important for us to follow the instructions God gives through the Bible?
Evenings: Praise God for the mercy He showed Rahab through the Israelites and for the mercy He has shown us through Jesus. How has God shown mercy through Jesus? How does it feel to know God loves you and wants to save you from the consequences of sin?
Family Activities
For Fun: Hold a competition to see who in your family can build the sturdiest tower using building blocks or interlocking blocks. Use books or weights to see whose structure can hold the most weight. As you build, discuss why only God could defeat Jericho. Then, read Matthew 1 to find Rahab in Jesus’ genealogy. Discuss how God used this event to save Rahab and how she became part of His story to bring Jesus as the Savior we need!
To Serve: As a family, donate to or serve a local organization that supports children in foster care. As a family, commit to praying for foster-care workers and for children to be united with loving families. Thank God for His love through Jesus that makes it possible for anyone who believes to be welcomed into His family and loved forever!
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