Part 4

FBC Baxley

October 1, 2025

Joshua 5:1–15

Renewing the Covenant Before Battle

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.

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.

4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt.

5 Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised.

6 For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord; the Lord swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

7 So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.

8 When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.

9 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.

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.

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.

-PRAY

O.S. Hawkins: “Our bodies are to be laid down on the altar of obedience daily.”

Opening:

Every soldier knows you don’t rush into battle without preparation.

You check your gear, you ready your mind, you steady your heart.

Israel was on the doorstep of Jericho, but before God gave them victory, He prepared them.

And notice—He didn’t start with swords or shields.

He started with their hearts.

1. Joshua 5:1–9 — Circumcision Renewed

The kings of Canaan were paralyzed with fear after the Jordan crossing.

If there was ever a “perfect time” to attack, this was it.

But instead, God told Joshua to stop and circumcise the new generation.

For forty years in the wilderness, the covenant sign had been neglected.

Before battle, God required His people to bear His mark again.

The Hebrew word for circumcise (mûl) means “to cut.”

It pictured the cutting away of the old life, a visible reminder that they belonged to God.

Before God fights through us, He first works in us.

Israel had to remember—their power wasn’t in their weapons.

Their strength was in their covenant identity.

2. Joshua 5:10–12 — The Manna Stops

After covenant renewal, Israel celebrated Passover in the land.

The very next day, the manna stopped.

For forty years they had woken up to bread from heaven.

But now, they ate from the land of promise—the grain and harvest God had given them.

The word “manna” (mān) means “What is it?”

It was God’s miraculous provision for a pilgrim people.

But manna was for the wilderness.

Now they were in the land, and God provided in a new way.

When God changes His method, He never changes His faithfulness.

**The stopping of manna wasn’t abandonment—it was advancement.

God was growing His people from dependence on daily miracles to trust in His ongoing provision.

3. Joshua 5:13–15 — The Commander of the LORD’s Army

As Joshua approached Jericho, he saw a man with a drawn sword.

Joshua asked, “Are you for us, or for our enemies?”

The answer came: “Neither, but as Commander of the LORD’s army I have now come.”

The Hebrew phrase (śar ṣĕbāʾ YHWH) means “chief ruler of God’s armies.”

Joshua fell on his face in worship, and this figure received it.

Angels never accept worship—this was a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ Himself.

Joshua’s question was the wrong one.

It wasn’t whether God was on Israel’s side.

The real issue was whether Israel was on God’s side.

Illustration:

After World War II, General Douglas MacArthur returned to the Philippines and said: “There is no substitute for victory.”

Joshua had to learn that ultimate victory doesn’t rest on human generals, but on the heavenly Commander.

Victory doesn’t come from God joining our plan—it comes when we surrender to His.

Life Application

Obedience before battle. God won’t bless us in public victories if we ignore Him in private obedience.

Provision in every season. God may not feed us the same way in every chapter of life, but He will always provide.

Surrender to authority. Our battles are not won by asking God to bless our plans but by bowing to His leadership.

Takeaway:

**Victory begins with surrender—when God has our hearts, He will give us His victory.