Week 12: When the Walls Come Down
Joshua 3-4, 6:1-21 Review the big story: God created the cosmos and humans and called it all good. We were created to live in harmony, but sometimes we miss the mark. Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and all of humanity missed the mark, and they had to live with the consequences, but God stuck with them and continued to love them. Then God called a family, beginning with Abraham and Sarah, to be in a covenant relationship with God. God’s work continued with three more generations from this family. Like the humans before them, they often missed the mark, but God was faithful. When the people became slaves in Egypt, God raised up Moses to be their leader. God performed many signs and wonders, and delivered them from slavery. In the wilderness, they learned to be a people of God, trusting in God’s provision, living out God’s commandments, and wrestling with the law in shalom community. As they prepared to go into the promised land, they were given the shema, words of love to keep with their whole beings.
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Tell the story: An entire generation has passed since the people were delivered from slavery and turned their eyes to the promised land. Now this new generation, who learned to be a people of God in the wilderness, are ready to lead the way to the promised land. Joshua takes Moses’ place as leader. First, they cross the Jordan, a big and mighty river that clears a path for them to pass through. They build a monument of stones to help them tell the story. Then they follow careful instructions to march around Jericho, to blow trumpets and to shout, and to wait for God to level the city walls.
Prime the pump:
Microsong: “When the Walls Come Down:”
Cross over Jordan, riverbed dry. Pile twelve stones so the kids ask why.
Thirteen circuits with trumpets then a shout… Keep nothing for yourself when the walls come down.
- Read Joshua 3-4, 6:1-21
- Read pages 72-75 in the Shine On story Bible
Prime the pump:
- Things to notice:
- What does this story of crossing the Jordan remind you of? Notice the similarities and differences of this story with the last time the people passed through a river on dry ground.
- Read the journey of the stones in Joshua 4 carefully. Notice why this ritual is required of the people. There is such power in what happens with the stones in this story, both in the ritual itself and in the conversations it will evoke later! This also might be the time to start keeping track of all the times the number 12 comes up in the biblical story.
- Another number to track is seven. Notice in Joshua 6:4 how many times the word seven is used! Where else have you heard the number seven in the big story so far?
- Background information:
- The Hebrew word translated as “cross(ing/ed) over,” ‘avar, shows up eight times in chapter 3. This is both a literal and symbolic crossing over for the people. Find all the “cross over” references.
- This is the first time we’re really talking about the Ark of the Covenant in this series. The Ark is a big, big deal! The stone tablets of the law (which you may know as the 10 Commandments) are housed in it. It has great significance in the people of God, and is seen as sacred and powerful.
- Jericho is called a “city” in Joshua 6:3. It’s helpful for our modern ears to know that the city probably had at most a couple thousand residents. It was very common for a city to be surrounded by walls to protect the inhabitants.
- Digging into historicity in this story can be a challenge. Archaeological evidence of the ancient city at the described site would point to the story not being “historically accurate.” But maybe that is not the point. Perhaps the important story here is that God called up the leader, God inspired the plans, and the first Israelite town in the promised land happens through a miraculous act of God, not through human power. God is the primary actor. That is what is important.
- Conversation starters:
- “What do these stones mean?” What are the “stones” in your household that prompt you to tell your formative stories?
- In this story, Joshua really comes into his role of leader of the people (see Joshua 3:7 and 4:14). It’s a leadership transition, from Moses to Joshua. If this angle intrigues you, go back and read more about Joshua, beginning with the 12 spies in Numbers 13, then more in the beginning of the book of Joshua.
- This is a squirmy story. We were tempted to end this recommended reading with Joshua 6:20 instead of verse 21. It is triumphalist, perhaps pointing toward occupation or colonization. Through today’s lens, Joshua 6 is hard to read. Wrestle with that.
Microsong: “When the Walls Come Down:”
Cross over Jordan, riverbed dry. Pile twelve stones so the kids ask why.
Thirteen circuits with trumpets then a shout… Keep nothing for yourself when the walls come down.
Sing the big song:
This is the story of how it all began. God made matter, and chaos shattered.
Eve and Adam, they tried to hide. The world got violent and God replied with a mark and flood and a rainbow sign, God’s love written on skin and sky,
And then God called a family to be a blessing to the earth, ahhhhhh
A mother and her favorite son wrestle for the blessing, another son becomes a slave, the land is saved from famine.
God’s family grows. Egypt oppresses. They groan to God and God sends Moses.
Ten strange signs say “Please release them!” By the sea God saves them. Ahhhhhhh
The people complain and God rains bread. Daily food and ten new rules.
Five sisters come and ask for land. God says, “Yes, amend the law!”
Moses says, “In your new life across the Jordan, love God with your whole heart and with all your being, and your strength, now listen: God is One, only God! God is One, only God!”
Cross over Jordan, stories and stones. Circles and shouts and the walls come down.
God loves every one of us, it’s true, and God loves the universe
This is the story of how it all began. God made matter, and chaos shattered.
Eve and Adam, they tried to hide. The world got violent and God replied with a mark and flood and a rainbow sign, God’s love written on skin and sky,
And then God called a family to be a blessing to the earth, ahhhhhh
A mother and her favorite son wrestle for the blessing, another son becomes a slave, the land is saved from famine.
God’s family grows. Egypt oppresses. They groan to God and God sends Moses.
Ten strange signs say “Please release them!” By the sea God saves them. Ahhhhhhh
The people complain and God rains bread. Daily food and ten new rules.
Five sisters come and ask for land. God says, “Yes, amend the law!”
Moses says, “In your new life across the Jordan, love God with your whole heart and with all your being, and your strength, now listen: God is One, only God! God is One, only God!”
Cross over Jordan, stories and stones. Circles and shouts and the walls come down.
God loves every one of us, it’s true, and God loves the universe