"So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets. And it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the walls fell flat"
Joshua 6:20

Andy listened as the commander told the story of the taking of Jericho by the children of Israeli. Afterwards the commander asked Andy what he'd thought of the devotional study this week. Andy had become one of his most "intense" students. He wasn't sure why, but he was glad of it. "That was awesome Commander," said Andy, then he continued, "I'm going to study some more on it. Can I give a report on it next week?" Andy had been giving reports for the last two weeks; the first about Noah and the second about Moses and the Red Sea. His reports were so intense that if you didn't know better you'd think he'd actually been there. "Sure Andy" replied the commander, "I look forward to it."

"Papa!" called Andy, as he came in the door from Rangers. "Down here Andy" replied his grandfather. "Bring us a drink, O.K?" he called. "O.K." said Andy. Andy's mother was busy elsewhere, but she heard her son come in; "Not too late Andy, there's school tomorrow and you've got a test 1st period." "I know mom!" called Andy, "I won't be late." Grabbing two sodas from the fridge he started for the basement and his grandfather. Standing in front of the door stood his mother. "Andy" she began, "Honey, I"m so happy that you're spending time with your grandfather, but don't forget your other friends. Jimmy called and said he hadn't heard from you all last weekend, and you hardly talk in school." "Sorry mom" said Andy, " I guess I'm just trying to catch up on a lot of missed time with grandpa. I'll call Jimmy tomorrow I promise." Andy's mother couldn't be mad. Ever since Andy's father had died, her father had taken them in and put a roof over their heads. "O.K. honey" she said and kissed his forehead. "Have fun." "Thanks mom", said Andy, and he disappeared through the basement door, locking it behind him.

"Hey Boy!" said Andy's grandfather. "It's about time!" "Sorry papa" said Andy, "Mom stopped me just outside the door," pointing to the door at the top of the stairs. "Oh!" said the older man, "In that case I understand completely." Reaching for the soda that Andy was handing him he asked, "Hey!, how was Rangers tonight? Did you get any new ideas?" asked his grandfather. "Oh Boy!" responded Andy, "Did I ever!" "Where to?" asked papa. "Jericho!" said Andy. "We're going to watch the walls tumble to the ground. After they finished discussing the final details of their proposed adventure. The made the intro video and gathered together some needed items. This trip they had even packed some food.

"Ready to Execute?" came the request. All the other commands had been imputed already. "5..4..3..2..1.. execute!" Andy pressed the video first, then the execute button. All the dials, lights and noises were commonplace now and the two time travelers took them for granted. In fact Andy's papa was chewing on a banana as Andy was now and old pro at getting them where they wanted to go.

They had learned to leave the machine in hover mode when they arrived and departed. They both agreed it would be safer. It was to be this time for sure. They stopped on a bluff overlooking the Jordan river. Now the Jordan was known to overflow it's banks and deposit fertile loam all about the lands. They heard Joshua tell the people to wait until the priests who carried the ark had entered the river before proceeding into the land. As they sat and watched, the priests came out carrying the ark. As their feet entered the waters of the Jordan river. The waters immediately were dried up. Joshua commanded the people to cross the river. The children of Israeli crossed the Jordan on dry land as the priests stood admist the same river on dry ground. As each tribe crossed over a member of the tribe picked up a large stone from the river bed. When all had crossed over, Joshua commanded the priests to come up out of the Jordan. When they had done this the waters returned and overflowed the banks as before. They took the twelve stones and erected an alter as a symbol that God had brought them across on dry ground. After they camped in the plains of Gilead before the city of Jericho.

Andy and his grandfather moved the machine to the other side of the river. In fact they went all the way to the city of Jericho. They circled the entire city. All access to the city was sealed up. No one came or went into or out of the city. Andy pointed to a spot on top of the wall where the two sides joined. Here they decided they would power down the main systems, keeping the hove mode in active. They stopped on top of the east wall of the biblical city of Jericho. The wall was a wide as a city street. In fact there were men leading oxen pulling carts here and there. Soldiers were everywhere, they all seemed to be in a joyful mood. They were milling about and some of them were pointing at something over the wall. Andy motioned to his papa to raise their elevation, as he nodded his head he touched the controls. As the machine gained altitude, what a sight unfolded before their eyes. On the plain before the city was the entire nation of Israeli. The "Ark" was being carried by the priests and the musicians all carried ram's horns.

They were starting to march, but march where? Then Andy remembered his Bible lessons. "Papa", he began, "they are going to march around the city and then b;ow the ram's horns. After they do that for seven days they will march seven times on the last day and the walls will fall flat!" All we have to do is advance the timer 24 hours ahead seven times to film each day and then we'll be in position for the grand finale. "Then what?" asked his papa. "Well, let's put it this way... we don't want to be sitting here in this spot." "Why?" asked the elder man. "Because... this spot isn't going to be here any more, that's why" replied Andy.

They marched as God had directed them. All the armed men first. Then the musicians with the ram's horn, followed by the priests with the ark. Joshua had commanded the people that they were not to utter a sound until he commanded them to do so. The children of Israeli marched and the horns blew. The machine rose hummed and settled back down again. This scene repeated itself six times. On the seventh day they marched around the city, once..twice...thrice.. nay seven times. The horns blew and the nation of Israeli shouted glory to the Lord. A great rumbling came from the bowels of the earth itself. Birds flew away in fear. All the nation of Israeli cheered their praise to their God. Their leader a man named Joshua was out in front with both hands raised to his God.

The rumbling continued, then large cracks started appearing in the walls themselves. Portions of the walls that weren't as strong as the rest started to crumble and fall away. Andy and his grandfather could feel the tremors under their machine. The older man had already powered up the machine, ready for a quick escape if necessary. A large crack suddenly appeared on top of the wall, and it was heading straight for them with increasing speed. Closer and closer it came, Andy raised his hand for the elder man to get ready. He needed had feared for his grandfather was more than ready. In fact he was already moving the power level up to the strongest setting. They were next to a bisecting inside corner of the wall. As they watched the approaching crack, they failed to notice another crack to the rear. Well as luck would have it, the two cracks met directly under the time machine before Any could give the signal. A chasm opened up and they started to fall down inside the wall. Andy's grandfather yelled, "HANG ON!" as he jammed the controls on full. Just at that moment a shower of bricks fell down on them. Luckily none struck either of them.

The machine went into hover mode and Andy's grandfather removed them to a small rise a short distance from the city. Here they sat unseen in hover and watched in complete fascination as the mighty walled city of jericho was reduced to a pile of rubble. The children of Israeli moved in and conquered the city. Everything was destroyed as according to God's instructions.

"I think I've had quite enough, how about you Andy?" asked his grandfather. All Andy could do was nod hi head. Andy's grandfather reset the controls and initiated the return sequence. When the noise abated and the lights dimmed, Andy noticed by the clock on the wall that they had only been gone less than 1 minute. Yet they had experienced about 8 to 10 days of Biblical history. After everything was shut down, the tape rewound and added to the two others. They climbed the stairs to the living room, closed and locked the door and started to go upstairs to their rooms. "What!" said Andy's mother, "did the big bad machine break down?" Andy and his grandfather looked at each other and just smiled.

The next Wednesday nite Andy gave such a report on the fall of Jericho, that even Pastor Dave was impressed. "And", ended Andy."Just imagine a city will walls fifty feet thick surrounding itself. This mighty city of thousands, bricks just like this one here" he said holding up a brick from the actual wall of Jericho. "These walls fell flat with a shout from the children of Israel. But without the power of God we know they could not have accomplished this awesome task." As Andy finished his report, both Pastor DAve and Commander Bob sat there amazed at the wisdom and the knowledge that came from this young man.

Andy was really tired today, he'd had quite an adventure to say the least. But before he went to bed, he went back downstairs and placed the brick on a shelf next to a stuffed fish and some dried out olive pits.

See ya next time!

Song: "We Call on Him"

Return to Home page