Getting Ready for Battle

Getting Ready for Battle

Introduction

Although I’m not an avid football fan; nor do I have this great love for football. But I do love my son who plays the game at Midwestern State University. Before every game they warm up! I have seen them do stretches. I have seen them throw the ball to one another. I have seen them run through different drills against one another. However, the stretches, the warm ups, the throwing of the balls, the drills are not the actual game. Those drills and the like are part of getting them ready for the real game. Before the game, they are actually preparing themselves for the game.

Opening Up Joshua Chapter 9: Meeting the True Commander (5:13–15)

As this passage opens, we find Joshua personally surveying the intimidating fortress (v. 13). How should he attack this city? What strategy would be most likely to bring success? At this point, Joshua was functioning as any good commander would.

The reality is this — people don’t prepare to fail, they fail to prepare.

The goal of the message is to give us tools to put in our spiritual toolboxes that can help us prepare for the battle before us in everyday life. The time of preparation could well be our private prayer and devotional times.

“As this passage opens, we find Joshua personally surveying the intimidating fortress (v. 13). How should he attack this city? What strategy would be most likely to bring success? At this point, Joshua was functioning as any good commander would.”

As this passage opens, we find Joshua personally surveying the intimidating fortress (v. 13). How should he attack this city? What strategy would be most likely to bring success? At this point, Joshua was functioning as any good commander would.

“THE process of circumcision is over, and the men are well; the feast of unleavened bread has come to an end; all honour has been paid to these sacred ordinances according to the appointment of God; the manna has ceased, and the people are now depending on the corn of the land, of which, in all probability, they have but a limited supply. Everything points to the necessity of further action, but it is hard to say what the next step is to be. Naturally it would be the capture of Jericho.

The city is surrounded by a wall, and its gates are "straitly shut up," barred, and closely guarded to prevent the entrance of a single Israelite. Joshua himself is at a loss. No Divine communication has yet come to him, like that which came as to the crossing of the Jordan. See him walking all alone "by Jericho," as near the city as it is safe for him to go. With mind absorbed in thought and eyes fixed on the ground, he is pondering the situation, but unable to get light upon it, when something comes athwart his sphere of vision. He lifts his eyes, and right against him perceives a soldier, brandishing his sword.”

Ellsworth, Roger. Opening up Joshua. Leominster: Day One Publications, 2008. Print. Opening Up Commentary.

#1 Survey the Surroundings (13)

The Land

The People

#2 Worship the Sovereign God (14)

postition

fell

face to the ground

#3 Obey the Sovereign God (15)

what are the orders

#3 Obedience (15)

“5:15 Even though the man refused to answer Joshua’s question, it is clear that he would be “for” Israel, not “against” it.

Why, then, did he not speak more forthrightly with Joshua and tell him that he was indeed for Israel? It appears to have been to teach Joshua a lesson about priorities.

God had already promised Joshua that he would be with him just as he was with Moses (1:5), so Joshua needed not worry.

The lessons Joshua needed here were to be able to recognize when he was in God’s presence and when to trust in him.

The man’s instructions to Joshua about removing his sandals because he was standing on holy ground obviously recalled God’s words to Moses at the burning bush ().

In yet another way, Joshua was now being affirmed as Moses’ successor and God’s presence was being promised to him.”

5:15 Even though the man refused to answer Joshua’s question, it is clear that he would be “for” Israel, not “against” it. Why, then, did he not speak more forthrightly with Joshua and tell him that he was indeed for Israel? It appears to have been to teach Joshua a lesson about priorities. God had already promised Joshua that he would be with him just as he was with Moses (1:5), so Joshua needed not worry. The lessons Joshua needed here were to be able to recognize when he was in God’s presence and when to trust in him. The man’s instructions to Joshua about removing his sandals because he was standing on holy ground obviously recalled God’s words to Moses at the burning bush ().292 In yet another way, Joshua was now being affirmed as Moses’ successor and God’s presence was being promised to him.

292 The wording is identical in the two passages, except for one additional word in Exodus and insignificant spelling differences.

Howard, David M., Jr. Joshua. Vol. 5. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998. Print. The New American Commentary.

“In this response, Joshua displayed three attitudes: (1) a humble, expectant, obedient attitude, indicated by the question itself; (2) a recognition of the man’s superior (and God-sent) position, indicated by the term “my lord”; and (3) a recognition of his own inferior position and a readiness to serve, indicated by his use of the term “his servant” to refer to himself.”

In this response, Joshua displayed three attitudes: (1) a humble, expectant, obedient attitude, indicated by the question itself; (2) a recognition of the man’s superior (and God-sent) position, indicated by the term “my lord”; and (3) a recognition of his own inferior position and a readiness to serve, indicated by his use of the term “his servant” to refer to himself.

Howard, David M., Jr. Joshua. Vol. 5. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998. Print. The New American Commentary.