The Bible is well-known for the way it hides powerful truths in simple details that, if you’re not paying close attention, you might just miss. One of such details shows up in Joshua 6:20, where it says: “The wall of Jericho fell down flat.”
Most of us are familiar with the story of Jericho: how God promised the Israelites victory, and how He gave Joshua a very unusual battle plan. But while we usually focus on the miracle that the wall fell, many people don’t notice the specific word: FLAT.
Let’s understand why that’s important. Historically, Jericho wasn’t just any city, it was a fortress. Archaeologists and Bible scholars tell us the walls of Jericho were massive. There was actually a double-wall system — an outer retaining wall made of stone and an upper wall of thick mud bricks. Together, the structure could have been over 40 feet high. The walls were so wide that people built houses on them; Rahab’s house, for instance, was on the wall itself (Joshua 2:15). Some accounts even suggest that chariots could ride side-by-side on top of it!
Jericho stood as the first major barrier between the Israelites and the Promised Land — a stronghold that had to be conquered before they could move forward. God instructed Joshua that the Israelites should march around the city once every day for six days, and on the seventh day, they should march seven times, with priests blowing trumpets. After all that marching, imagine how tired they must have been — walking round and round under the hot sun, day after day!
Now, think about this: if those mighty walls had just crumbled in the normal way, what would have happened? The rubble would have still been a huge mess — big stones, piles of debris — another obstacle to climb over. For tired people, that would have been serious wahala! But the Bible carefully records that the walls didn’t just fall — they fell FLAT. God didn’t just give them victory; He made the way smooth and easy for them to march straight in and claim the land.
This small detail shows us something profound about God: He is not just interested in you winning; He’s interested in making the victory complete and accessible. He’s not looking to stress you after the struggle — He clears the way.
This is a reminder of how God works — not halfway, not leaving you stranded after the battle, but finishing what He starts. He knows when you’re tired, and He clears the path so you can walk in without extra struggle.
Sometimes, that one word, FLAT, carries the whole blessing.
Have an amazing weekend!
2 thoughts on “The Wall of Jericho”
A word in season
Awesome.. God complete his work! Thanks for sharing Dr Davis