Josh (10-12-08)
Oct 12, 2008
“Preparing for Battle” Josh 5:1-9
Israel arrived safely on the other side of the Jordan River .. into the Promised Land ( & their crossing was .. a great miracle )
But more .. their crossing of the Jordan sent a fearful message to the people who were in that land ( 5:1 )
now it came about when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west & all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea heard how the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed that their hearts melted & there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel
& as we already heard from Rahab in Ch 2 Canaanites were already afraid of Israel’s God ( & their fears .. totally demoralized them )
( 2:9–11 )
9) Rahab said to the men .. I know that the Lord has given you the land & that the terror of you has fallen on us & that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you
10) for we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt & what you did to the 2 kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to Sihon & Og .. whom you utterly destroyed
11) when we heard it .. our hearts melted & no courage remained in any man any longer because of you .. for the Lord your God He is God in heaven above & on earth beneath
But as we’ll read here in Ch 5 God has something more to do with Israel before they to go into battle
Read Josh 5:1-9 Pray
The circumcision described in Josh 5 took at least 10 days to complete / heal
but before the battles began .. God had to renew His covenant with His people [1]
v2-7 why did God command this ritual of circumcision to take place …
because … Israel is a covenant nation … & they have a privilege .. that God has given to no other nation on earth .. but them
In Rom 9:3-5 Paul says this of Israel
3) for I could wish that I myself were accursed separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren .. my kinsmen according to the flesh / the Jews
4) who are Israelites .. to whom belongs the adoption as sons & the glory & the covenants & the giving of the Law & the temple service & the promises
5) who are the fathers & from whom is the Christ .. according to the flesh who is over all .. God blessed forever .. Amen
God gave His covenant to Abraham ( when he formed the nation .. Israel ) when He called him out of Ur of the Chaldees
Genesis 12:1-3
1) now the Lord said to Abram go forth from your country & from your relatives
& from your father’s house
to the land which I will show you
2) & I will make you a great nation
& I will bless you & make your name great
& so you shall be a blessing
3) & I will bless those who bless you
& the one who curses you I will curse
& in you, all the families of the earth will be blessed
Later .. God sealed His covenant / promise thru a sacrifice Gen 15 … with a heifer / goat / ram / turtle-dove / pigeon as God passed thru the sacrifice sealing His covenant with Abraham
Then .. ( even later on ) .. God gave the sign of circumcision to seal His covenant with Abraham & his descendants Gen 17:9–14
9) God said further to Abraham now as for you .. you shall keep My covenant you & your descendants after you thruout their generations
10) this is My covenant .. which you shall keep between Me & you & your descendants after you every male among you shall be circumcised
11) & you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin & it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me & you
12) & every male among you who is 8 days old shall be circumcised thruout your generations a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your descendants
13) a servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised .. thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant
14) but an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin that person shall be cut off from his people he has broken My covenant
Thus .. this covenant reminded the Jews that they belonged to the God of Israel & that they were under obligation to obey Him so as not to break off their covenant with Him
The covenant reminded them additionally that their bodies belonged to the Lord & were not to be used for sinful purposes
Exodus 19:5-6
5) now then .. if you will indeed obey My voice & keep My covenant then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples for all the earth is Mine
6) & you shall be to Me .. a kingdom of priests & a holy nation .. these are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel
You see .. Israel would be surrounded by nations that worshiped idols & other degrading / false gods
So God gave Israel a covenant / circumcision ( this mark upon their body )
To remind them / Jews .. that they were a special / separated / holy nation of people & that they were to maintain their purity … within their marriages / families / society & especially .. their worship of Him / God ( this was .. the call .. upon their lives ) [2]
You see .. this is also .. our call as well upon our faith / lives too
( read & explain 1 Pet 2:1-10 )
The Jews had not practiced circumcision during their years of wandering / wilderness because at Kadesh Barnea they had refused to believe God & enter the land .. & they were then walking in disobedience to their God
So God disciplined the people by making them wander in the wilderness until the entire older generation had died off ( except for .. Caleb & Joshua ) [3]
So before they were to do as God had called them to do … ( take possession of the Promised Land ) it is 1st essential .. that this new generation renew their covenant relationship with the Lord .. thru circumcision
Because .. during their wilderness journey they were tempted to sin / see: Num 25: 1-8
( while in Peor .. Israel joined themselves to harlots & to the idol of Baal )
They were .. so out of control & they .. so angered God that God said to Moses Num 25:4
take all the leaders of the people & execute them in broad daylight before the Lord so that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel
Can we not see how serious God is concerning our sin against Him …
& so .. the sign of circumcision became a constant reminder on their bodies of to Whom they belong [4]
Listen to this now … this is so important but like most .. “religious practices” … time moved them away from their commitment
In time .. the Jews came to trust in the external mark of the covenant .. watch more than … the God of the covenant who wanted to make them .. a holy people
& so .. in time .. they began to think that as long as they were God’s covenant / chosen people … they could live just as they pleased … but they were warned ( Jer 4:4 ) [5]
circumcise yourselves to the Lord
& remove the foreskins of your ( your what ) … your heart men of Judah & inhabitants of Jerusalem
or else My wrath will go forth like fire
& burn with none to quench it
because of the evil of your deeds
you see .. God prefers obedience over sacrifice 1 Sam 15:22 ( see next page )
1 Samuel 15:22
Samuel said .. has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings & sacrifices .. as in obeying the voice of the Lord .. behold to obey is better than sacrifice .. & to heed .. than the fat of rams
So God said to them / us in ( Deut 10:16 )
so circumcise your heart & stiffen your neck no longer
You see .. no amount of external surgery can change .. the inner person
It is when we repent & turn to God for help that He can change our hearts & make us love & obey Him more ( Rom 2:28–29 ) [6]
28) for he is not a Jew who is one outwardly nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh
29) but he is a Jew who is one inwardly & circumcision is that which is of the heart by the Spirit .. not by the letter & his praise is not from men .. but from God
When John the Baptist called the Jewish religious leaders to repent they said “we have Abraham as our father”
They were not unlike some people today who feel sure they’re saved & are going to heaven .. because they’re baptized / confirmed or participate in communion / church
Listen please to each of you .. I love so much no religious rites can become a substitute for our faith in J.C. ( Eph 2:8-9 )
8) for by grace you have been saved thru faith & that not of yourselves .. it is the gift of God
9) not as a result of works .. so no one may boast
v8 Imagine how vulnerable they felt … ( lying there circumcised & helpless ) imagine their faith in God to do this with all the men who are able to fight now disabled .. due to circumcision
& camped just a few miles from Jericho … ( right next to their enemies camp / city )
In Gen 34:24-31 2 of Jacob’s sons Simon & Levi came into the enemy’s camp & killed all who were lying there helpless they too .. had been circumcised …
Well .. the Jews knew of this story & yet .. they still obeyed God
Therefore .. it took faith / courage for Joshua & the people to obey the Lord but their obedience to the Lord was the secret of their success ( Josh 1:7-9 )
Josh 1:7-9
7) only be strong & very courageous be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you do not turn from it to the right or to the left so that you may have success wherever you go
8) this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day & night so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it .. for then you will make your way prosperous .. & then you will have success
9) have I not commanded you be strong & courageous do not tremble or be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go
Let’s allow our courage & strength be our success as well
Verses:
Josh 2:9-11
Rom 9:3-5
Gen 12:1-3
Gen 17:9-14
Ex 19:5-6
1 Pet 2:1-10
Num 25:1-8
Jer 4:4
1 Sam 15:22
Deut 10:16
Rom 2:28-29
Eph 2:8-9
Josh 1:7-9
----
[1]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 5:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 5:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 5:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 5:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 5:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 5:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.