Setting the Conditions

Reading: Joshua 5:1-12

Welcome and Prayer (Ps. 138)

Sermon

In the narrative from last week in Joshua 4, the author took the opportunity to zoom in on a small detail that was left unfinished in the previous chapter. In the previous chapter Joshua had appointed 12 men to represent the tribes of Israel when they were preparing to cross the Jordan, then that part of the narrative was continued by picking up after the Israelites finish crossing. We learned that after receiving instruction from the Lord, the twelve men each took a stone out of the river and set all of them together as a memorial of the wonders that God did to bring Israel into the Land of Canaan. The end of the chapter makes clear that, while the memorial was primarily to remember the crossing of the Jordan, it also served to call the minds of the people back to all the things that God had done to bring them this far. From the exodus through the Red Sea to the crossing of the Jordan river and everything in between, the stones were to remind the people of God’s faithfulness to His people. From that narrative we were reminded of God’s faithfulness to his people and shown the importance of maintaining a memorial to that faithfulness. In this we also saw the example for us believers to maintain certain memorials commanded of us in the New Testament, both individual memorials and corporate memorials as the church. In our passage for today the narrative transitions to the conquest beginning with a story which is meant to shock and jar the reader. The story starts out alright, with The Lord striking fear in the hearts of the Canaanite Kings. At this point, someone reading this for the first time is meant to think, “Oh yeah! Now it is time to press the attack!” Instead, the Lord tells Joshua that Israel needed to renew their commitment to the covenant by every man getting circumcised before they even think of proceeding with the invasion. At this point, you might be wondering how this is supposed to be shocking. Well, to every good Jew, throughout their history after this, the idea that anyone wouldn’t be circumcised would be unthinkable. Even when Israel was straying from the true path in nearly every area of life, they always maintained circumcision on the eighth day after birth. No one would have even contemplated not doing it because it was a sign of the covenant going all the way back to Abraham. The fact that multiple generations of Israelites would have gone without this most basic of covenantal sign would have been an affront to the average Jew hearing this story. Following the circumcision, Israel went on to reaffirm God’s provision for them through celebrating the Passover and the Lord displays how he will continue to provide through the land and removes his miraculous provision of the manna which Israel had eaten all through their time in the desert. For anyone who wants to follow along and try to do a narrative analysis on your own for next time, the next narrative chunk is Josh. 5:13-6:27.

God inspired fear in the hearts of the Canaanites (GREEN)

Reaffirmation of what Rahab told the spies (Josh. 2:9)

The miracles of the Lord only served to amplify the fear of the Canaanites

Exemplary of what all enemies of the Lord feel

Deep down everyone who opposes the Lord is afraid. Afraid of Judgement, afraid of his righteousness, afraid of his Glory because it will expose their sin. In James 2 we are told that even the demons are terrified of God because they have a proper understanding of who he is.

Think of all the non-believers that you know. Often they lash out, ignore you, or even cut you out of their life when Christ is mentioned. I know from experience that their reactions can feel like a personal attack and we might be tempted to only see the anger in them. Really, deep down, those reactions from someone who hasn’t confessed Christ as Lord stem from a terror of God. They are afraid their sin will be exposed, they are afraid to receive judgement for what they have done, They are afraid of being rejected by a perfect God who knows everything they have ever done.

The Canaanites were just acting like natural man, deepening their rebellion against YHWH as a result of their fear.

God required Covenant renewal before he would lead Israel to conquer the land. (GREEN)

The previous generation was in constant rebellion to the Lord

When they first came to the Jordan, they refused to obey the Lord; first by not entering the land then by attempting to enter the land after God had already pronounced judgement. (Num. 14:39-45)

They had the outward sign of the covenant but did not have a right relationship with the Lord.

This generation displayed their obedience to the Lord

They already had the inward attitude of faithfulness so the Lord required

God protected and provided for Israel in their vulnerability (GREEN)

Israel displayed again their faithfulness to the true God

God honored their obedience by protecting them from the people in the land.

We can see this pattern throughout Israel’s history. When they listen to the Lord and obey his word, he provides blessing and protection to them. When they disobey, the Lord Disciplines them, often by allowing them to suffer at the hands of their enemies.

That pattern is set out for them in Deut. 28

This pattern can also be applied, to a lesser degree, to all Christians

Thankfully, we are not reliant on our obedience for protection in our place as God’s children (Rom. 8:38-39)

God still promises to discipline us if we stray from faithful obedience. (Prov. 3:11-12)

God’s provision for them in the land is a fulfillment of his promise in Deut. 26:1-2

So What?

Trust in the faithfulness of the Lord!

He will protect us at all times but especially in the face of adversity and animosity

Seek to be self-disciplined (PINK)

Though our place as God’s children is not dependent on our obedience, we are commanded to obey they Lord as a part of our Christian walk (1 Cor. 9:24-27)

Our obedience and self-discipline is a sign of our love for our savior. (Jn. 14:15)

Our obedience will be rewarded. (1 Cor. 3:8)

Possibly on earth but definitely in Heaven (2 Tim. 4:8)

Get out and share the hope of salvation! (RED)

The world is without hop in the face of a perfect God (Ps. 14:3)

We have Hope in Christ (Rom. 5:8)

We are commanded to share that hope with the world (Matt. 28:19-20)

Invitation

If anyone here has not experienced the hope that comes with knowing our risen savior, I urge you to accept this invitation today! Christ calls all who would hear and obey to join him in eternal joy. He simply asks that we acknowledge and repent of our sins, believe that He died for our sins and confess him as Lord, continue living your life in obedience to his call! Additionally, if there is anyone here who is not a member of this church and you feel the Lord calling you to membership here I would be happy to answer any questions you might have about membership.

Any questions or need of prayer, I will be up here ready to pray with you this morning. Or, if you aren’t comfortable coming up this morning, you can stop by my office or call/text me and I would be happy to sit down with you.

The Lord’s Supper

Every quarter we as a church take part in the Lord’s supper which is both a reminder of Christ’s death and a chance to reflect on our own walk with the Lord. We welcome all true believers to join with us in communion but if there is anyone here who is not saved or if there is anyone holding on to unrepentant sin then we would ask that you let the cup and bread pass you by so you do not eat and drink judgement upon yourself as Paul says in 1 Cor. 11:28-29. As the juice and bread come around please hold onto them so we can all partake together. Let us pray.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 ESV

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Benediction

Prayer

Hebrews 13:20–21 ESV

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.