Joshua 5

Joshua 5

Text: Joshua

Introduction

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 6: Joshua Scripture Outline

Israel has come to a most significant moment. A national history that had begun with Abraham some eight hundred years before was entering a new stage. The people have crossed over the Jordan as the floodwaters were held back by the Lord. And the memorial stones have been placed as a reminder of God’s goodness. Now these Israelite nomads are encamped at Gilgal preparing to attack Jericho. Ironically, God has something else in mind.

I will be honest. I had my doubts to what spiritual application could be drawn from this chapter. I have learned however, that it is very important that a Bible student make a habit of reading over scripture multiple times while praying for God to show him/her what they need to understand for life application.

So, I will not endeavor to spend our time being technical out all the details of this chapter. I will however draw some important thoughts of application from TWO important things God had them to do before taking the city of Jericho.

It is my prayer that you as well will learn how God’s timing and focus for your life is far more important than just charging forward into life.

1) People Are Watching God’s Hand In Your Life

Even though there will undoubtedly be some who respond with hardened hearts, there will be those who respond with fear and terror.

There is unfortunately sometimes this MINORITY & INFERIOR perspective among believers.

Somehow, if they are a Christian and the minority, they are also inferior to unbelievers.

Christians have to given up things while unbelievers have things a little bit better.

AGAIN, read verse 1!!!

Let’s examine the honest mind of the pagan (aka, unbeliever).

Has know idea where he/she comes from.

Doesn’t have any real sense of purpose.

No appreciation of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

No appreciation of the forgiveness Jesus offers.

Doubt often creeps in and begins to looks for something better.

They are truly always looking for some reality.

The god’s of Jericho could be TOUCHED by the people, but the TRUE GOD of Israel had His touch on them.

APPLICATION

The REAL LIFE CHANGING alternative is in the hearts and mouths of God’s people!!! GET OUT THERE!!!!!!!!!

Quote: “The world will come with fascination to watch a person who is willing to burn himself out for Jesus Christ.” — Billy Graham

QUESTION: Why were the people of Jericho watching the Israelites from within the city walls? THEY WERE DIFFERENT!!!!!

The whole premiss of the Christian life is to enjoy God making you different than the world.

It should never be something to dread or hide.

It is through the SANCTIFIED life, God speaks to those who need regeneration to finally experience REAL LIFE.

Quote: “As much as we need to build bridges of communication and adapt ourselves on nonessentials to our culture, there does need to be a separation between a believer and a nonbeliever that is apparent.” Jr. Huffman John A. and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Joshua, vol. 6, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 90.

Remember, there are some people like Rehab with a heart prepared to respond in faith.

2) Don’t Forget To Pause And Recommit

Here is something we need to remember:

Physical circumcision was an outward mark of God’s covenant with them.

It was symbolic of God removing them from their former identity and creating them a people for Himself; a people of freedom in God.

However, all those who had underwent circumcision (except Joshua and Caleb) had died.

All those born during the wilderness pilgrimage had not received this covenantal mark.

Let’s take notice of the circumstance:

Jericho had fortified their city. No one in and no one out!

Their hearts were freshly shaken and full of fear.

This would have been the most sensible time to attack.

However, many times we are guilty of fixing our minds on progress, we forget to remind our hearts to whom our life and the battle belongs too.

God reminds them of two things they have neglected:

Circumcise all the men

It was a reminder of the freedom they were given by God.

They also had to wait a few day to heal.

The cutting away of their old slavery in Egypt came with its pains and wounds.

The freedom and joy that followed the healing made it all worth it.

They were not to go forward with any shame of their past life!

Celebrate the Passover

Passover was the thanksgiving festival to commemorate the escape from the bondage of Egypt.

This Passover observance has been continued on a regular basis to the present time.

They needed are re-devote themselves to God before heading into battle.

They took time to pause and reflect on their true identity.

Now, how can these two observances benefit us when they were only given to the Israelites?

Circumcision

The physical act was a covenantal rite. However, even Moses put more emphasis on the “circumcision of the heart.”

Deut. 10:16 “16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.”

This is a call to REPENTANCE! A call to RADICAL SPIRITUAL SURGERY.

The Passover

Our minds should remember when Christ came to be our Passover!

We are always better prepared for the future when we take time to remember what Jesus has done in the past.

Listen, even though there are a few thousand years between them and us, WE ARE NO DIFFERENT!

We can become preoccupied with our careers, eking out our own existence and giving the best we can to our children. In the process, we can lose our identity. Christianity is only one generation from extinction. Jr. Huffman John A. and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Joshua, vol. 6, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 94.

Here are a few questions for you:

Are there area’s of God commands and our purpose that we two have neglected???

How are proactive are we to introduce to our families worship, song of the faith, preaching, and fellowship?

We have to ask the question: Why do many young people leave the church at the college age?

I do think there has been more of a commitment of amusing and teasing our youth along while neglecting to introduce them to their corporate identity. (NARCISISM)

Do our families observe evidence of our loving Jesus and desiring to serve Him?

They should see the CIRCUMCISION of our hearts and our observance of our PASSOVER in Jesus.

3) God Shapes Our Provisions (VV11-12)

Notice the dramatic change in their provision.

Following the Passover, the manna ended!!!

QUESTION — Has God ever changed up how He provided for you?

God knows how to shape your provision to best suite your circumstances.

There is something called “Unhealthy Dependency” (Kids never taught to work)

While God is the God of both the supernatural and natural, He withholds the supernatural when the natural is available.

We must understand that how God provides today may not be how He provides tomorrow.

However, rest assured, God always provides!!!

Keep yourselves open to God’s process of growing you.

4) We Are Never Above Needing To Be Led (vv13-15)

Have you noticed something?

The people, priests and military leadership have never been more unified than NOW.

No one is getting ahead of God, lagging behind, etc.

Joshua realized something very important:

God is always near us and willing to lead us through if we are open to Him.

Quote: Our extremity is God’s opportunity. He is the Captain, the Commander in Chief, the One who gives the orders and then gives us enough strength to live one day at a time. Jr. Huffman John A. and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Joshua, vol. 6, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 97.

Are YOU willing to humble yourself?

A humble person listens and obeys.

Quote: “It is a noble illustration of the truth, that, in the great causes of God upon the earth, the leaders, however, supreme and solitary they seem, are themselves led. There is a rock higher than they; their shoulders, however broad, have not to bear alone the awful burden of responsibility...” — George Adam Smith

How important is our spiritual Great Commander & Chief’s commission to us?