INTRODUCTION: We have a major transition in this chapter that begins with verse 13, when General Joshua receives his “orders from headquarters” – from the Holy One of Israel Himself! From this point on, it’s not about Israel entering the land, but conquering the land which GOD promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and for all of the people of Israel (PSALM 105:9-15).
Reviewing the outline which we produced at the beginning of this study:
1) ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND – the people of Israel cross over the Jordan into Canaan (JOSH 1:1-5:12): Joshua leads the nation (about 1-2 million Hebrews, representing the next generation, as the first generation – with the exception of Joshua and Caleb – all perished in the wilderness because of their unbelief).
2) CONQUERING THE PROMISED LAND – The nation begins their GOD-ordained mandate to take the land promised to them (JOSH 5:13-12:24): Joshua strikes the central area of Canaan, then turns to the south and conquers those regions of Canaan. He turns about and takes down the regents in northern Canaan.
JOSHUA 5:1
1 So it was, when all the kings of the Amorites who were on the west side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had crossed over, that their heart melted; and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel.
It could very well be that the Canaanites were not only aware of the Hebrews who were at the Jordan River but were preparing for war with them. But such things would take time, and they probably thought they’d have enough to do so, considering that the river was overflowing its banks, making it impossible to cross. But then they heard that “the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan”.
Their heart melted because they had no more time for war preparations. Not just rumor, but testimony from those who witnessed how those Hebrews took out those kingdoms of Og and Sihon reached the ears of Jericho and the other domains within Canaan.
Their hearts melted, there was no spirit left in them. Perhaps they even said “We’re doomed” with the same conviction of C-3PO? The faithfulness of GOD for His people in granting them provisions and military victory is renowned:
PSALM 44:1-8And yet while the pagan nations had every cause to worry, Israel was in need before they could engage in warfare in the land.
1 We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us, what work you did in their days, in the days of old. 2 You drove out the nations with Your hand, but you planted them. You afflicted the peoples, but You spread them abroad. 3 For they didn't get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but Your right hand, and Your arm, and the light of Your face, because You were favorable to them. 4 You are my King, God. Command victories for Jacob! 5 Through You, will we push down our adversaries. Through Your name, will we tread them under who rise up against us. 6 For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. 7 But You have saved us from our adversaries and have shamed those who hate us. 8 In God we have made our boast all day long, we will give thanks to Your name forever. Selah. (See also EXOD 15:1-18; PSA 105; 1 SAM 17:44-47).
JOSHUA 5:2-5
2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time." 3 So Joshua made flint knives for himself and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way, after they had come out of Egypt. 5 For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they came out of Egypt, had not been circumcised.
Those of the first generation that left Egypt were circumcised already as a matter of custom (beginning with Abram himself; ROM 4:11; GEN 17:10); and in EXODUS 12:43-48 even those who were servants (purchased) were circumcised. And even before that, when GOD called Moses out of Sinai and return to Egypt to begin the ministry of Israel’s deliverance, GOD had issues with him, because his first born hadn’t yet been circumcised (EXOD 4:24-26).
So with Moses’ first born, all Israel and even servants to Israel, as well as Joshua and the second generation of Israel – and we ourselves: we are needing to be “circumcised [of heart]” (COL 2:11) if we are to serve the LORD.
Sanctification must precede service. This is true in every aspect of Christian service, and most especially when engaged in spiritual warfare.
The Christian who indulges in the flesh or even just harbors unconfessed sin is like the knight who ventures onto the battlefield with missing parts of his armor or if only a chink that hasn’t been repaired. That’s a vulnerable warrior!
2 TIMOTHY 2:21-22It’s as we walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh that we are in a spiritual “bubble of protection” as it were, impervious to injury (but not attack) by the enemy. If we step outside of that blessed bubble, we can expect buffeting and bruising of the Beelzebub sort!
21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
And note the sort of material used for this very delicate procedure of circumcision: flint. When properly shaped, flint produces a fine, sharp edge that’s actually superior to steel! When involved in the sort of procedure that GOD called Joshua to conduct on the men of Israel, the last thing you want to use is a dull instrument!
I recall a humorous scene from the film with Kevin Costner Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves where the Sheriff of Nottingham, exasperated with Robin, shouted out, “Locksley, I’m going to cut your heart out with a spoon!” The cousin of the Sheriff, Guy of Gisborne, asked him, “Why a spoon, cousin? Why not a dagger or an axe?”
“Because it’s dull you twit, it’ll hurt more!”
When it comes to the cutting away of the flesh (i.e., sin nature) you want the sharpest instrument there is – to make the cut clean, precise and as painless as possible. And this is where the Sword of the Spirit comes in!
HEBREWS 4:12Nevertheless dying to sin nature, to self, to crucify one’s own carnality isn’t painless for the disciple of Christ – it’s a part of our high calling in the LORD:
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
MATTHEW 16:24In LUKE 9:23 it states that this cross-carrying call for the sake of Christ is one to be exercised DAILY by the devoted disciple who loves GOD more than his own life (LUKE 9:23; 14:26)!
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
As a result of reading Andrew Murray’s powerful little book, Absolute Surrender, I thought of the acronym of A.V.R.A.S. meaning “Absolute Victory (in life) Requires Absolute Surrender (to Christ). I can see some of us looking at that phrase “absolute surrender” and feeling despondent. We know how weak we are (but none better than GOD (PSA 103:14), Who knew Peter’s downfall before that apostle experienced it; LUKE 22:60-62).
Even when it comes to surrendering to GOD, we need the Spirit of GOD to reinforce our dedication, our decision “all to Jesus, I surrender… I surrender all”. And surrender is proportionate to the victory. Even if you don’t make it all the way to absolute surrender, any degree of surrender will equate to victory at some level!
Just as the men of Israel endured circumcision and were quite tender, vulnerable and weak, we must come to terms with our own vulnerabilities and weaknesses, understanding that without GOD and the Armor He provides, we are “tender” before the lethal weapons of the enemy.
But in our weakness, Christ is strong (2 COR 12:10)!
JOSHUA 5:6-8
6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD-to whom the LORD swore that He would not show them the land which the LORD had sworn to their fathers that He would give us, "a land flowing with milk and honey." 7 Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8 So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed.
“Forty” is a numerical representation for testing, and sometimes for judgment. The Ark was in the Flood for “forty days and forty nights”. Moses was up in the Mount of the LORD for forty days. Christ was in the wilderness also for forty days.
Here we see that the children of Israel were in the wilderness for forty years, tested and tried so that they could be seen for what they are. Testing and trials reveals things in us that we otherwise would be unaware.
When the gold ore is in the furnace, impurities rise to the top and are skimmed off by the gold smith. As the heat intensifies, even more impurities are discovered. The process continues until the gold smith is satisfied that the gold has achieved maximum quality of purity.
For the saint, it’s only as we submit to the trials and afflictions so ordained by GOD that this betterment can occur. For those who resist and resort to murmuring and rebellion, these will succumb to bitterness. That’s the truth of it: trials will make the humble better, and they will make the hard hearted bitter.
After all that GOD did for Israel: displaying His awesome power in the Ten Miraculous Signs demonstrating His Almighty Superiority over the ten most prominent Egyptian gods, protecting them by instructing Israel to sacrifice the (Passover) lamb, freeing them of the bondage to Egypt, providing the wealth of Egypt on the way out, guiding them safely across the parted Red Sea, making sure that they were well supplied with manna and water (and finally quail) through a journey across the wilderness (a trek that should’ve only taken a couple of weeks, but because of Israel’s obstinacy, it lasted forty years. Those provisions continued too, all the way up to this point in Israel’s experience with Joshua!). Their clothes and sandals were preserved in the distressing environment of a hot desert. They were given cool shade by day by the pillar of cloud, and warmth and light by night by the pillar of fire!
For all of their bickering, complaining – and even accusing Moses of wrongdoing, and then EVEN GOD Himself!
It’s no wonder that the patience of GOD, after forty years of this, finally came to an end, and that first generation of Hebrews sealed their fate (See NUM 14:23,33; DEUT 2:7,14; PSA 95:10-11; HEB 3:7-13).
We don’t always appreciate the seriousness of being discontented in life. Consider how Lucifer, the greatest, most intelligent, beautiful, powerful creature that GOD ever made (EZEK 28:12-15)! You would think Lucifer would have been entirely content with the profuse honor that his Creator blessed him with. But no; he was discontented, he wanted more, reached for more, exalted self and that turned that holy cherub into a Satan!
The same with Adam and Eve – discontented with what GOD provided them with: Paradise in Eden, being perfect in body and mind, an abundance of food and beauty that surrounded them. They got to fellowship with the LORD every day in the cool of the evening! One would think they’d be content with paradise. But no; with no small encouragement from the devil, they wanted more, reached for more, exalted themselves.
That turned our First Parents – uncorrupted beings in perfect harmony with the living GOD, into sinful creatures that hid from their Maker, experiencing all of the vile fruits of sin and sorrow, sweat and suffering! The Steward and Master of Nature became a shackled slave!
1 TIMOTHY 6:6-8One of the sure fire preventative measures to safeguard us from avarice, lusting and coveting is by being thankful for what the LORD has given us, being content with it, and understanding that while we deny ourselves in this world as disciples of Christ, the LORD will MORE than make up for it, once we arrive in the manifest Kingdom (MATT 6:19-21)!
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
HEBREWS 13:5-6
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
JOSHUA 5:9-11
9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day. 10 Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho. 11 And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day.
From Adam Clarke’s commentary:
The reproach of Egypt: [The Hebrews] being uncircumcised made them like the uncircumcised Egyptians; and the Hebrews ever considered all those who were uncircumcised as being in a state of the grossest impurity. Being now circumcised, the reproach of uncircumcision was rolled away. This is another proof that the Israelites did not receive circumcision from the Egyptians; for they could not have considered those in a state of abomination, from whom they received that rite by which they conceived themselves to be made pure. The Israelites had this rite from Abraham; and Abraham had it from the express order of God himself. See GEN 17:10
And from Matthew Poole:
Ver. 8. Free from that pain and sore which circumcision caused, GEN 34:25. It was indeed an act of great faith to expose themselves to so much pain and danger too in this place, where they were hemmed in by Jordan and their enemies; but they had many considerations to support their faith, and suppress their fears: the fresh experience of God's power and readiness to work miracles for their preservation; the great consternation of all their enemies, which they might observe and rationally presume; the considerable number of the people who were above forty years old, and therefore circumcised before this time, their great general being one of this number; the time it would require for their enemies to bring together a force sufficient to oppose them.Remembering GOD’s deliverance from Egypt and the angel of death in the Passover celebration gave them hope, courage and faith in GOD in His further provisions as they ventured into Canaan land!
JOSHUA 5:12
Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.
My first couple of runs through the Old Testament in my early Christian days, I didn’t appreciate the fact that the manna that GOD fed His people didn’t cease until well after they left the wilderness! And note what Scripture here says – or what it doesn’t say: that the manna ceased the week before, or even the day before the people ate of the produce of the land. Rather, it wasn’t until the day after they ate of the produce that the manna ceased!
GOD is so careful about His provision for His children; He is in fact generous, ensuring that they are well looked after. He is truly THE Good Shepherd (PSA 23; JOHN 10).
Even more so when it comes to the Holy Scripture! There is a subtle danger for us Christians who’ve been in the faith for a while. We become so accustomed to having the Scriptures readily available, so familiar with spiritual truth that we relate to them on a routine, dare I say casual basis?
I remember a TV preacher (back in the day when they weren’t all hucksters and con men) that would never read the Word of GOD except on his knees! I’m not saying that’s how we all need to read the Scriptures in this physical expression, but certainly in the posture of reverence and humility!
Let us therefore never take it for granted that we hold in our hands the complete and sufficient revelation of GOD, readily available and provided to us in the abundance of a spiritual banquet!
JOSHUA 5:13-15
13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, "Are You for us or for our adversaries?" 14 So He said, "No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?" 15 Then the Commander of the LORD'S army said to Joshua, "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so.
So, now that Israel has crossed the Jordan River, and entered, not with spies, but with the armies of the Living GOD of Israel, into Canaan land to begin the campaigns of conquest under the direction of YHWH, we see Joshua encountering this unusual man with a drawn sword.
General Joshua asks the obvious question since he, in a sense, is in “enemy territory”: “Are you for us or against us?
I love His answer to the human vessel GOD is using to lead the nation:
“No...” It wasn’t a matter of which side He was on, what plan He endorsed – it was and always will be, are we onboard with GOD’s plans and with what He endorses! And when He identified Himself as “Commander of the army of the LORD” Joshua understood Who it was that was facing him! His reaction?
He bowed down and worshipped! And He asks the right question:
“What does my Lord say to His servant?" Then this godly man, who was the faithful servant to Moses, who attended Moses on Mt. Sinai when he spoke with GOD Face to face heard the same words spoken to him here in Canaan land:
"Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so.
What made that particular piece of land holy? Or that land that surrounded the burning bush? Nothing especially – it was only the fact that GOD was there! That’s what made dirt holy!
It’s the same with us, GOD’s clay pots, made of dirt, but we are holy inasmuch as GOD dwells not before us – as He did with Moses and Joshua – but within us!!
2 CORINTHIANS 4:6-7We are justified in Christ by grace. We are sanctified in Christ by grace. And we will be glorified in Christ by grace. It’s all according to the grace of GOD through faith and biblical belief in the Gospel:
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
ROMANS 10:9-11Note this: “believe in your heart” – not your mind, not your intellect, not your philosophical positioning but from your heart. Intellectual belief, moral acquiescence and reformation won’t save you. It can’t! Only when we believe whole-heartedly and fully – surrendering our will, and our very lives in explicit trust in GOD and His Word – specifically the Gospel, can we be saved.
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
As a result of being justified in Christ, we have the indwelling Spirit inhabiting – not our old heart that’s desperately wicked, but the new heart fashioned for us by the creative act of GOD (EZEK 36:26) and can have that intimacy with our Creator and Redeemer anywhere and everywhere we go!
We don’t have to travel to a temple or a sanctuary to visit GOD (but we do need to assemble together for specific reasons because it’s GOD’s command (HEB 10:23-25)), He lives in us! And that sort of communion was the point of the Cross!
The sin issue needed to be taken care of, atonement made, new hearts fashioned – why? So that the LORD can have that abiding and meaningful love relationship with us His adopted and precious children!
Such is the desire of GOD for His people Israel as well! In establishing the Tabernacle, and later the Temple, GOD would and did dwell among His people. Yet like with the church, Israel will one day be indwelt with the Spirit of GOD!
Having completed JOSHUA Chapter 5, next time we’ll get into the hugely popular and renowned events of Chapter 6 and the city of Jericho!
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