Lesson 18: Part Two

President Howard W. Hunter gave a great talk titled, "The Walls of the Mind". In this talk he referenced the walls of Jericho and provides valuable insight. I linked the talk title so that you can read the entire message, if you'd like.

When Joshua led the children of Israel over the Jordan River, the first city they confronted was Jericho. Spies were sent out, and a council of war was held. Joshua’s generals undoubtedly set forth arguments as to the kind of weapons, armaments, and tactics that would be needed if they were to breach the wall successfully and destroy the city. Traditionally, it would have meant a lengthy siege. In the meantime, the reputation of the Israelites had preceded them, for the gates of walled Jericho were already closed. The biblical account reads: “Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.” (Josh. 6:1.)

In fact, the military planning was so far advanced that according to Joshua, “about forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the Lord unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.” (Josh. 4:13.)

But the Lord had a better way: “And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.” (Josh. 6:2.)

Yes, Jehovah has a better plan. Jericho would fall, but in the Lord’s way. Instead of being armed with swords and spears, they were armed with rams’ horns. Instead of taking a battering ram, they were to take the sacred ark. They were led not by generals, but by priests; they wore not armor, but priestly garments. And in place of a battle cry, there was perhaps a hosanna shout. Instead of setting them to a long, devastating military siege, the Lord promised that after only seven days “the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.” (Josh. 6:5.)

The Apostle Paul, commenting on this rather unusual procedure, explains it all in one simple sentence: “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down.” (Heb. 11:30.)

Elder James E. Talmage concurred when he wrote, “With full confidence in the instructions and promises of God, Joshua and his intrepid followers laid [spiritual] siege to Jericho; and the walls of that city of sin fell before the faith of the besiegers without the use of battering rams or other engines of war.” (Articles of Faith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1984, pp. 93–94.)

President Kimball, in addressing the issue of “walls,” asked: “Why must men rely on physical fortification and armaments when the God of heaven yearns to bless them? One stroke of his omnipotent hand could make powerless all nations who oppose, and save a world even when in its death throes. Yet men shun God and put their trust in weapons of war, or in the ‘arm of flesh.’ ” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969, p. 318.)
Howard W. Hunter, “Walls of the Mind,” Ensign, Sep 1990, 9