Albert Barnes Commentary Hebrews 11:30

"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days." — Hebrews 11:30 (ASV)

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, etc. (Joshua 6:12–20). That is, it was not by any natural causes, or by any means that were in themselves adapted to secure such a result. It was not because they fell of themselves, nor because they were attacked by the armies of the Israelites, nor was it because there was any natural tendency in the blowing of horns to cause them to fall.

None of these things were true. It was only by confidence in God that means so little adapted to such a purpose could have been employed at all; and it was only by continued faith in him that they could have persevered day by day, when no impression whatever was made.

The strength of the faith shown on this occasion appears from such circumstances as these: that there was no natural tendency in the means used to produce the effect; that there was great apparent improbability that the effect would follow; that they might be exposed to much ridicule from those within the city for attempting to demolish their strong walls in this manner; and that the city was encircled day after day without producing any result.

This may teach us the appropriateness and necessity of faith in similar circumstances. Ministers of the gospel often preach where there seems to be as little prospect of breaking down the opposition in the human heart by the message which they deliver, as there was of demolishing the walls of Jericho by the blowing of rams' horns. They blow the gospel trumpet from week to week and month to month, and there seems to be no tendency for the strong citadel of the heart to yield.

Perhaps the only apparent result is to provoke ridicule and scorn. Yet let them not despair. Let them continue to blow. Let them still lift up their voice with faith in God, and in due time the walls of the citadel will totter and fall. God has power over the human heart, as he had over Jericho; and in our darkest day of discouragement, let us remember that we are never in circumstances indicating less probability of success—from any apparent tendency in the means used to accomplish the result—than were those who encircled this pagan city. With similar confidence in God, we may hope for similar success.