Familiar but Fatal—What God Saved You From, Demons Want You Back In-Don’t Take the Bait.

There are moments in life when God, in His mercy, tears down the walls that once held us captive—walls of sin, destructive habits, or relationships that kept us from His purpose. Yet, the temptation to rebuild what He has already torn down can be strong, drawing us back to what is familiar, even if it’s harmful.

The story of Jericho serves as a powerful warning against such actions. When God delivered Jericho into the hands of the Israelites, He not only commanded its destruction but also declared a curse on anyone who would rebuild it. This profound moment in Scripture is more than an ancient tale; it’s a timeless lesson on repentance, recovery, and the dangers of resurrecting what God has already removed for our good. Let’s dive into the story of Jericho and the significance of this warning in our lives today.

After the Israelites, led by Joshua, conquered Jericho, the city was not just defeated—it was devoted to destruction as a testament to God's power and judgment. To ensure that Jericho would never rise again as a stronghold of opposition, Joshua placed a solemn curse on anyone who attempted to rebuild it. He declared,

“Cursed before the Lord is the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho; with the loss of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and with the loss of his youngest son he shall set up its gates” (Joshua 6:26, NASB).

This curse was not just about the physical reconstruction of a city but a deeper spiritual warning against undoing what God had destroyed. It served as a lasting reminder that when God removes something, whether a city, a stronghold, or a sinful pattern, it is not meant to be restored.

Centuries later, Hiel of Bethel ignored this warning, rebuilding Jericho under the reign of King Ahab. His actions were not just about reconstructing a city but reflected the spiritual corruption of Israel as a whole. By disregarding God's clear command, Hiel and the society he lived in revealed a deeper issue—turning away from God's authority to do things their own way. This act symbolized a nation that had lost sight of God's holiness and the consequences of defying Him.

 1 Kings 16:34 (CSB): "During Ahab’s reign, Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho. At the cost of Abiram, his firstborn, he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub, his youngest, he finished its gates, according to the word of the Lord he had spoken through Joshua son of Nun."

The curse on Jericho reminds us today of the danger of revisiting what God has removed from our lives. It calls us to repentance, to trust in God's plan, and to resist the urge to rebuild the strongholds of sin He has graciously torn down.

Why Did the Curse Include Losing His Sons? In biblical times, the firstborn son symbolized the future and legacy of a family, carrying on the family name and heritage. When Hiel rebuilt Jericho and lost his firstborn at the laying of the foundation and his youngest at the setting of the gates, it showed the devastating consequences of his defiance against God's command. His rebellion didn’t just affect him but also brought suffering upon the next generation.

This tragic outcome serves as a warning: when we rebuild what God has torn down, we not only risk our own well-being but also jeopardize the future and legacy of those who come after us.

Some people rebuild what God has told them to leave behind—sinful habits, toxic relationships, or past identities. Just like Hiel, they suffer consequences because they ignore God's wisdom, choosing to revisit what God had already removed for their good.

When God tears something down, it is an act of deliverance, not deprivation. Yet, too often, people attempt to reconstruct what once enslaved them, leading to unnecessary pain and loss.

Consider these sobering examples:

• Returning to addiction – A person breaks free from substance abuse, yet in a moment of weakness, they return to it, only to find the chains even stronger than before.

• Rekindling a toxic relationship – God removes a person from an emotionally or physically abusive relationship, yet loneliness tempts them to reopen the door to the same pain.

• Embracing an old identity – Someone who has been redeemed and transformed in Christ finds comfort in their past reputation, gradually slipping back into old behaviors that contradict their new life.

• Rebuilding destructive thought patterns – After experiencing healing from self-doubt, fear, or anxiety, a person entertains the same lies that once held them captive, leading to a renewed cycle of insecurity.

God destroys strongholds to set us free—but we must not rebuild them. When we trust His wisdom and resist the temptation to return to what He has removed, we walk fully in the freedom He intended for us.

In this same theme I am reminded of another scripture about returning to what God already delivered us from:

Matthew 12:43-45 (CSB): “When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places looking for rest but doesn’t find any. Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ Returning, it finds the house vacant, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that person’s last condition is worse than the first. That’s how it will also be with this evil generation.”

This passage is a powerful warning about spiritual deliverance. If a person is freed from demonic influence but does not fill their life with God's presence, they remain vulnerable. The enemy seeks to return, often bringing greater destruction than before. It highlights the importance of true repentance, ongoing faith, and being spiritually filled with the Holy Spirit to prevent falling back into an even deeper bondage.

God’s Word is Unbreakable

God’s Word is unbreakable, standing firm regardless of human belief or defiance. What He declares will always come to pass, just as it did in the case of Hiel. His actions could not undo what God had spoken, and the devastating loss of his sons proved that God’s word remains sovereign over time. This serves as a powerful reminder that both God’s promises and His warnings are sure. They are not suggestions but absolute truths that shape reality.

Disobedience Brings Consequences

Disobedience brings consequences, even when it seems harmless or practical in the moment. Hiel believed he could bypass God’s word and rebuild Jericho without suffering the curse spoken through Joshua, but his family paid the price. What may appear as a simple decision can have devastating ripple effects when it goes against God’s will.

The Deeper Message

The story of Jericho is one of destruction and redemption, judgment and grace. The first Jericho fell by faith, as the Israelites trusted God to bring down its walls. When Jesus walked through Jericho, He came to rebuild by faith, not with bricks and mortar, but through transformed hearts.

The original city was cursed because of disobedience, yet Jesus came to lift the curse, offering salvation where judgment once stood. Hiel rebuilt Jericho through corruption and death, paying the price with the lives of his sons. In contrast, Jesus redeemed it through love and life, bringing healing, forgiveness, and restoration.

The message is clear: what is built outside of God’s will leads to ruin, but when Jesus enters, He restores what was once lost, replacing judgment with grace.

When we surrender to Jesus, He redeems the broken places in our past, transforming what was once a story of failure into a testimony of His grace. Just as Jericho, once cursed, became a place of healing and salvation, our lives are not defined by past mistakes but by what God does through them.

What was once a place of judgment can become a place of redemption—a testimony of His power to restore. Just like Jericho’s walls fell by faith, our own spiritual walls—our defenses, fears, and past sins—come down so that God can rebuild us His way. In Christ, no past is too broken to be made new.

The lessons from Jericho still apply today. God fights our battles, but we must trust Him completely. When He tears down spiritual strongholds, we should not attempt to rebuild them in our own way.

So, what about you? Are there places in your life where God has removed something, yet you feel tempted to rebuild? Have you been delivered from a habit, a relationship, or a mindset, only to find yourself drawn back to it? Jericho teaches us that when God calls us forward, we are not meant to resurrect the past. Will you cling to what is familiar, or will you allow God to rebuild your life His way? The choice is yours—but so are the consequences.

Will it be Worth it? Choose wisely. Choose surrender. Choose redemption.

Amanda Allen, the author of Kingdom Revelations, holds the copyright to her works and art. Copyright © Amanda Allen, Kingdom Revelations, 2025. All rights reserved. This article may be shared with acknowledgment of the author and the original source.