Mesa Valley Church of Christ Grand Junction, Colorado
Illustration for Joshua and Jericho

Old Testament people Ages 4–10 Story 7 of 25

Joshua 6 · ESV memory verse below

Joshua and Jericho

Who is this?

Joshua led Israel after Moses. The LORD told him to be strong and courageous and to obey God’s word.

What happened?

At Jericho, Israel marched exactly as God said. The walls fell. Obedience, not magic noise, won the day.

The story

Jericho was shut up tight. No one went out; no one came in. The LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand.”

God’s plan sounded strange: march around the city once a day for six days. Carry the ark. Blow the trumpets. Keep quiet. Joshua and the people did just what God said.

On the seventh day they marched around seven times. Joshua said, “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city.” The people shouted. The wall fell down flat.

God gave them the city. Rahab and her family were kept safe, just as promised. Israel learned again: when God speaks, we walk in His way—even when it looks unusual to us.

Memory verse (ESV)

And Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city.”

Joshua 6:16

Talk about it

Ages ~4–7

  1. Who made the walls fall—Joshua’s shout alone, or the LORD?
  2. Were the people quiet for six days?

Ages ~8–12

  1. Why did God ask for silence before the shout?
  2. How is obedience different from trying to “make magic” happen?
  3. Where do you need courage to obey God’s word this week?

Family activity

March quietly around the living room seven times, then shout “The LORD gave the city!”

Parent take-home

Read Joshua 6. Notice that the plan was the LORD’s—quiet marching, the ark, then a shout. Practice being strong and courageous by obeying God even when the plan looks strange. Pray Joshua’s courage for one hard obedience this week.

Talk on the way home

  1. Whose plan was the march around Jericho?
  2. What happened when the people shouted?
  3. Why is it hard to obey God when His way looks unusual?

Longer family guide: Week 7 on the family page.

Print coloring and activities (PDF) All children’s stories

In the PDF: coloring page, memory verse with blanks, plus kid activities (maze). Trace the path with a finger first, then a crayon.

For parents and teachers

This is a story of obedience, not of magic noise. God gave the city; Israel walked and shouted when He said. If you act it out, keep it reverent: the ark, the silence, then the shout.