Joshua Part 3 - Marked with Change

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Recap of last week

Israelites took their first big step towards the promised land and crossed the Jordan

God showed up in a big way stopping the Jordan from flowing so they walked over on dry ground

We saw that The ark of the covenant went before them, stopped in the middle as the Israelites crossed over and followed behind them.

Then they set up rocks as memorials and I had asked you to write down some remember whens.

Take some testimonies of Miracles or remember whens

I think of the celebration that was happening when they finally all crossed the Jordan. God did it again!!

So let’s get into chapter 5 of Joshua.

Greater victories require greater sacrifice

Joshua 5:1–3 (ESV)

1 As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.

The tide is changing. God is raising up an army to take back what the enemy has stolen or occupied for far too long.

2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.

God confirms His covenant

Joshua 5:8–9 NLT

8 After all the males had been circumcised, they rested in the camp until they were healed. 9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt.” So that place has been called Gilgal to this day.

Genesis 17:10–14 ESV

10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

Covenants are more than just a legal transaction. There is relationship with a covenant.

It’s why we take communion each week. We remember the new covenant which is the final covenant. We are his and he is ours.

God always provides

Joshua 5:10–12 ESV

10 While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho. 11 And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

There are so many promises on God’s provision.

2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT

8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

Philippians 4:19 ESV

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 23:1 NLT

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

Matthew 6:26 ESV

26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

God will bring confirmation

Joshua 5:13–15 ESV

13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have 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 And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

John 3:16–18 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.