Joshua 5:1-15 | "Now I Have Come" [Live Stream Edition]

I. Reading of Scripture

Joshua 5:13-14a 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.”

This is the word of the Lord, Thanks be to God!

Pray

“Now I Have Come”

II. Introduction

A. Introduction to Theme

This text has a temporal nature to it, meaning it is a text where timing is significant. Notice the words “When” and “Now.”

Have you learned to trust God’s timing? Or do you question God’s timing?

Have you every asked God, “Why now!?” or “When God!?”

Have you waited for God until you felt like you could wait no longer?

Have you prayed for something, and it seems God’s answer came at the last possible moment?

B. Introduction to Text

The timing here at the end of Chapter 5 is important because it immediately precedes the Battle of Jericho in Chapter 6. It is a moment of decision - fight, or flight!

Here is Joshua, God’s appointed leader, with a people who have now passed through the Jordan into the Promised Land. And they are pressing on to fight! To take what God has given to them as their inheritance! There is no turning back!

What is the song we sing?

“I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back!”

And there was no turning back for the people.

Joshua 4:18 ESV

18 And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.

The same miracle that brought them IN to God’s promise is the same miracle that kept them IN God’s promise!

The God who parted the waters of the Jordan also brought those waters back to overflowing as they had been before, so that what used to be a barrier returned to being a barrier — except now the barrier was behind them and not in front of them!

People who struggle with addiction understand this. The addiction never goes away, it just relocates. It’s either in front of them or behind them, but it’s still there!

If you go to a 12-step support group they all recognize this -that no matter how long they’ve been sober, they are still an addict. They introduce themselves as an addict.

The barrier was not removed, it was just relocated.

So the people were now faced with a choice — go forward with the Lord and face the new challenge of Jericho, or turn back and face the old challenge of the Jordan on their own!

We can imagine the people looking behind them and seeing the overflowing waters of the Jordan, and then looking at the twelve stones that once sat at the bottom of those waters, but were now dry standing as a memorial forever, so that they they might remember that the Lord had delivered them from the Jordan so surely He can deliver them from Jericho too!

Surely the Lord can relocate the stones that formed the walls of Jericho too!

In this way, the people of faith had passed a point of no return.

Hear this Gospel Proclamation! The same Savior who brought us in to God’s family is the same Savior who keeps us in God’s family.

Jesus brings us past a point of no return! What Jesus has done for us is better!

Jesus does not merely relocate our sin, but removes our sin, declaring us right with God by his own blood, by making us born again as a new creation and brings us in as brothers and sisters with Him into God’s family! Adopted as sons of God!

This is how Joshua is pointing us to Jesus!

Yet while living in light of this blessing, we still face challenges.

After all, what was it Jesus said:

Matthew 16:24 ESV

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

If we think taking up a cross is easy, then we don’t know what it means to follow after Christ!

Matthew 7:13–14 ESV

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

When following Jesus — the easy way is the wrong way. The hard way is the right way. This is a way the Lord tests our commitment to Him!

It was easy for Peter to deny Jesus three times and to run away.

It’s easy for us to give up and find an easier way forward.

But in the right time, the Lord came.

II. Exposition

Joshua 5:13-14a ESV

13 When Joshua was by Jericho...

Joshua is “by Jericho.”

Israel is encamped at a place called “Gilgal.” Gilgal is on the eastern edge of Jericho, where Israel had camped after passing through the Jordan into the Promised Land (4:19).

The name Gilgal sounds like the Hebrew word “to roll,” because in Gilgal, the Lord “rolled away the reproach (or disgrace) of Egypt” from the people (5:9).

All this time - the wilderness wanderings, the 40 years from Egypt to the Jordan, the crossing of the Jordan and entering into the land — and the people still bear with them a reproach, a disgrace of Egypt.

No matter how much they have consecrated themselves, no matter how distanced they are from their faithless fathers, they still carry a disgrace of Egypt among them that makes them unfit — not ready to receive their inheritance.

If you mince garlic cloves, you know that you can wash your hands many times after and still have that stench of garlic on your hands!

So it was with the people and Egypt. God had demonstrated his ability to save his people many times from things like famine, drought, plagues and impassable bodies of water.

But now God will demonstrate that He can save not only from that which is outward, but also that which is inward. God can remove what we cannot remove — that which is our disgrace, our sin.

God can make us holy without — and God can make us holy within.

Joshua 5:1 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.

This is a testimony yet again, of the LORD going ahead to fight on behalf of His people.

Just as the wax of a candle melts under the flame, as the Word of God’s wondrous works goes forth it melts the hearts of the people of the land with fear.

And the inhabitants of the land realize that they will not ultimately be fighting Israel, but they will be fighting Israel’s God!

As a Pastor, I am leading our church to be “God’s People - God’s Way.” Recognizing that the Church belongs to Jesus Christ, and Jesus has given certain instructions concerning who His Church should be, and what His Church should do and How His Church should operate.

And God’s Word influences the decisions that I make. I make a point to back up what I do with Scripture for this reason — when someone disagrees with something that I do as a Pastor, my hope is that I can take comfort that their disagreement is not with me, but ultimately it is with God — if I am leading God’s way.

The inhabitants of the land feared Israel because they heard about the workings of Israel’s God! In this way the people were being used by God to make the greatness of God known in all the land!

Joshua 5:2 ESV

2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.”

Notice the language: “At that time the LORD said to Joshua...”

The timing is significant. God had already won the battles, but the people were not yet ready to fight them and inherit the land. Something needed to be accomplished in them first!

So God commands that the sons of Israel be circumcised a second time.

And Joshua obeys.

CIRCUMCISION

Joshua 5:3–7 ESV

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.

Circumcision was a physical sign that marked the descendants of Abraham as recipients of God’s covenant.

Circumcision was an outward mark that represented an inward work on the heart (Dt 10:16, Jer 4:4). It was a sign of faith.

It was a sign of covenant membership. It was commanded in the law of Moses.

The wilderness generation disobeyed God and did not keep this sign of circumcision. They were faithless.

And now the former generation is being contrasted with the present generation.

Notice that the former, faithless generation had all been circumcised — yet their outward sign of circumcision did not guarantee their inheritance of God’s promises.

How many people outwardly profess faith in Christ, wear a cross necklace or have a cross tattoo, how many people attend church services, have their name on the membership roll of the church? Serve on committees of the church.

Yet these things will not save you! You can do all of these things, and still have a heart that is far from the Lord! You can do all of these outward things and still die in the wilderness having never seen the land promised.

Outward works do not save! God does his saving work upon the heart.

In the same way it was a circumcision of the heart that mattered.

God brought the generation under Joshua into the Promised Land even while they outwardly were not circumcised — but their hearts were.

Outward demonstrations of faith can never replace a genuine demonstration of faith that is continued obedience — proceeding from a faith that is in the heart.p

Joshua 5:8–9 ESV

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.

Notice that word “Today.”

The timing is significant.

After the nation was circumcised, the reproach of Egypt was rolled away.

And who rolled away the reproach of Egypt? God did.

This action was clearly ascribed to God! While the people obeyed God’s command, and were healing outwardly, they were being healed by God inwardly, God doing a work on their heart.

This circumcision was necessary for one more activity — circumcision was required to partake in the Passover (Ex 12:48-49).

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.

Notice the timing. The timing is significant.

There on the plains of Jericho, on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening, they kept the Passover.

Psalm 23:5–6 ESV

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

This Psalm is anticipated here in Joshua, as the people keep the Passover meal, and then begin to eat the produce of the land of Canaan.

PASSOVER

Passover reenacts God’s salvation for Israel. It reminds the people that the Lord is their Savior! And how God saves.

Immediately after Passover is the Feat of Unleavened Bread.

And in celebrating this feast they eat from the produce of the land of Canaan and the Manna ceases. It is no longer needed. God has made a better provision for His people.

In the same way, Jesus is our better provision. He is the Bread of Life.

John 6:32–35 ESV

32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Having been circumcised, and having kept the Passover, the people are now prepared.

And it was at this time -

Joshua 5:13-14a 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.

There is a mystery here. For Joshua does not know who this man is.

This man is obviously a warrior, armed with a sword, and the sword is drawn.

This man is ready for battle.

Joshua 5:13-14a ESV

13 ... And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?”

This is a natural and human way of thinking. Joshua wants to know:

“Whose side are you on?”

“What category may I place you in?”

“How shall I treat you? As friend, or foe?”

But this man does not answer Joshua’s question by picking sides, or identifying himself by a human category.

Joshua 5:14a ESV

14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.”

The way that this man does not answer Joshua’s question shows that this man is of a different order. He cannot be put into human categories. He cannot be likened as one who takes sides.

Instead, He answers Joshua’s question by revealing His identity as the commander of the army of YHWH, and offers this response: “Now I have come.”

And so God would have us to know, that:

In the right time, this commander came.

The timing is significant.

Trusting God’s timing in all things is a necessary part of walking with God!

From the beginning of Joshua in Chapter 1, Joshua has been preparing for battle — his command was to be “strong and courageous.”

And for 5 Chapters, Joshua must lead God’s people solely on a confidence in God’s Word.

Yet now, God gives Joshua something visible.

And in these visible moments, just as at Jesus’ baptism when the heavens were opened, just as on the mountain when Jesus was transfigured and seen speaking with Moses and Elijah, now Joshua is given something to see --- to know that time is right. The battle is at hand. And the commander has arrived!

Who is God for? What side is God on?

God is for God....don’t ask: Is God on my side? God is not on your side, God is on God’s side. The better question is — who is your commander? Who is your Lord?

As we pass on the faith to the next generation — that is the message we must pass on. We don’t pass on the faith by forming people to take our side — but by demonstrating through our obedience that Jesus is Lord!

How does Joshua respond to this man’s revelation?

IV. Conclusion

Joshua 5:14b-15 ESV

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.

This man’s identity remains a mystery. The response of Joshua to fall on his face and to bow down certainly leads us to sense that this man was God himself — Jesus.

And his presence certainly brought confidence for the task ahead. And Joshua found himself in a holy place. And an assurance that while he is called to lead this people, there is another army fighting and winning — the LORD’s Army!

A. Gospel Proclamation

This passage gives us wonderful ways to think about the Gospel.

As we think about circumcision, we understand that the work of circumcision on our heart is outwardly visible through baptism.

Colossians 2:11–15 ESV

11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

As we think about Passover, we remember the Lord’s Supper — as Jesus gave new meaning to the bread and cup— taking the bread and breaking it to signify his body broken for us. Taking the cup to signify his blood poured out for us. Jesus gave the bread and cup new meaning because of His own death on the cross.

After being buried, God rolled away the stone of the tomb on the third day — and in doing so rolling away from us the reproach of our sin — for sin no longer has any power over us in Christ!

Jesus is the Bread of Heaven and the Bread of Life. In him we will never hunger or thirst again.

B. Application

In Joshua we understand that the people will not enter into God’s promises by their own way.

In Jesus we see that Jesus is the way and the fulfillment of all of God’s promises!

Jesus is our inheritance!

And like the people in Joshua - we must prepare our hearts by faith, confessing Jesus as the only way and obeying him!

Our salvation is not found by picking sides, but by following Jesus!