Joshua 5

As we look to the next chapter of Joshua, I pray that the spirit of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is daily filling you with an overflow of hope and joy. I pray that, as we study Joshua, you will find overlap of the story of Israel in your own story. I pray that you are finding that this old war story connects to the battle that we each are facing in our current time- not against armies of flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil and darkness. May our time together strengthen your faith, build your courage, and prepare your heart for a connection with you Creator.

This study on Joshua 5 will split our time together into four sections. Remember, this follows chapter 3 and 4 where we are able to read the incredible and symbolic account of Israel crossing the Jordan river at flood level. Now, after years of the wilderness, generations removed from the exodus from Egypt in which God freed them by his mighty hand, Israel was coming into the land in which God had promised. To come out of the Jordan, which was being held back like a wall was blocking it, and step into a land that was every man and woman’s dream, had to feel indescribable. It must have felt like a dream. But here they were, Jordan back to normal, and they are sitting on the other side in the Promised Land.  This brings us into chapter 5.

Section 1: 5:1 The Fear

We see that once Israel crosses the Jordan during flood season, the kings of the nations in close proximity to the crossing begin to sweat. Scripture says they began to melt in fear. But, let’s be honest: who wouldn’t? We see in the story of Rahab that the nations and tribes in the land already have heard of Israel and their God because of the wonders that occurred in Egypt. That was a pretty decent gap in time from Egypt until the Jordan. But the Jordan refreshed those stories of Egypt. So not only did God let Joshua and Israel know that he was with them, but in turn it let every other nation know that God was with them. 

It is kind of like football, right? You have walkout music, you get real loud, you want the crowd yelling and screaming. You have confidence in your walk and in your eyes. You try to wear uniforms that are intimidating. And on kickoff, coach always says that opening kickoff to make sure you hit people as hard as you can. Set the tone that you are the enforcer. That you are stronger and that for the opponent, it will be a long night. You have this nation of people, hungry to get into the land. Tired of the wilderness and eating manna everyday. Then, right before they walk onto the field, God holds back an overflowing river. Cue the music! Fear enters in the heart of every nation that hears. And if you can get them to doubt and have fear, the battle is half won already. 

Fear is something that connects to us today. We live in a time that many of us are living daily in fear. Fear of the future and what it may look like, for sure. But many of us are fearing the present as well. We are unsure where it is that we are stepping. Coronavirus has placed us into uncharted territory and presents us with death, job less, financial insecurity, and a host of other issues. But we know that the believer has nothing to fear and that it is those whom we are waging war against; the darkness that surrounds us; it is the evil spirits that shake at the declaration of his name! So those who are fearful now: declare his name! Our God has already won the battle over fear and death. We fear because we hold onto the things that Christ has already claimed victory over. Live in present presence of Christ. Why spend hours worrying over a future that God already has control over and is in his hand? Why fret over a past that God has already given redemption from? And why have anxiety over the present in which we know he is currently reconciling all things unto himself? We have nothing to fear, for those who are in Christ have been granted life.

Section 2: 5:2-9 The Circumcision

When thinking about war tactics and battle plans, my mind does not typically go to Operation Circumcision. That is a joke; I never combine circumcision and war. It seems counterintuitive and, of course, painful. So why would God command such a thing? We first ought to remind ourselves why circumcision was a thing in the first place. 

Circumcision first pops up in Genesis 17 in the covenant between God and Abraham. God had promised Abraham and his descendants three things: land (the Promised Land we see now!), seed (offspring), and blessings. But a covenant requires a fulfillment by two parties. God said I will give you these things as long as you and your offspring are faithful to me. Faithfulness to God requires us to die to our own fleshly desires and instead pursue a life that is perfected in his will. As a sign of this covenant between God and Abraham and the descendants of Abraham, God declared that all those under the covenant should be circumcised. This, truly, is a sacrifice of flesh. It reminds us of a much deeper spiritual truth at play in which Jesus and Paul will bring to attention in the New Testament: to be God’s people we need to die to our fleshly desires. To be circumcised it reminded the people of Israel of the covenant, that God was with them and that they needed to be in turn faithful.

So this circumcision before battle actually would work as a rallying cry of the people of Israel. It reminded the warriors that they were not fighting for themselves, for Joshua, or for the future sakes of their families. No, they were coming into the land because it was a fulfillment of God’s will. And when you fight knowing that God has promised victory, it should make us very confident in how that battle will play out! It also was to remind them that, if they were unfaithful, or could just as easily strip it all away. It reminded them that what they were taking part in was less about the battle and more about the relationship they had with their God.

I think that this plays extremely true for us today as well: life is less about the battles and more about the relationship we have with God. Many times we are caught up and overwhelmed with the battles that we experience. We revel in the battle itself, and not what the battle points to. Our battles are to point us back into a relationship with God! The physical is to point us towards a spiritual. Circumcision is less about the man’s private part and more about the person’s heart. All people need their heart circumcised and the ways of this world put to death in each one of us. Likewise, whatever you are fighting today, I ask that you look to your loving Father and not at the crashing waves around you. It is when we look to the Father we will have victory. 

Section 3: 5:10-12 The Passover

Can you imagine eating manna for forty years (Ex.16:35)? I guess we don’t have manna, but I can’t imagine eating the same thing for so long. My mother says growing up for two years all I would eat were hot dogs and yogurt. I cannot tell you the last time I had either! For some people, that is what they’d had their whole lives. But, now in the Promised Land, God had brought them to a place flowing with milk and honey. You ever eat something for the first time and just have your mind blown? Like the first time you had an Schuler’s blueberry donut? Is that just me? They are so sweet and just melt in your mouth. And of course this came on Passover. Let’s remind ourselves the significance of the Passover.

The Passover refers to the last sign given to Pharaoh in regards to releasing Israel from slavery. In this sign, all those who feared and believed in the Lord were to take the blood of a lamb and paint the corners of their doorpost. They were to eat unleavened bread as it was quicker to make, a sign that the people were to leave hastily. The blood on the doorpost was so that the angel of death, whom God had sent, would pass over those who were under the protection of the Lord God, symbolized by the blood. This sign ultimately allowed the Israelites to be freed from their bondage.

So for the Israelites, now in the Promised Land, this Passover symbolized this same act of God in a different form. The Israelites were freed once again, this time not from slavery to Egypt, but freed from the wilderness. And now they were being brought into a land of freedom, of flavor, of newness, of life. 

The Passover should have a powerful impact on us today. We can and should wake up every morning with the reality of the Passover painted on our foreheads. Truly, by the blood of the Lamb who is Jesus Christ, we have been covered. Our sins have been washed clean and we have been broken free of our chains to this world. Judgement has passed over us and we are free to live a life of flavor by the grace of God. 

Section 4: 5:13-15 Whose battle is this?

The armies of Israel were awaiting orders outside Jericho, the fortified city where the Israelites would face their first battle. As Joshua was waiting for the green light from God, the commander of the army of the Lord was with him. This was no ordinary angel, but must have been a manifestation of the Lord himself. Angels are not worshipped, God is (ex. Exod. 3:5-6). God is not appearing to Joshua as a burning bush, but instead as a warrior. And that brings us to the conclusion of this chapter, leaving us with one question: whose battle is this? We are left looking at the walls of a great city, a seemingly impossible task for this wandering nation of people untested in battle. But who is really in charge? Just as God led the people out of Egypt through Moses, God is promising to lead Israel into battle through Joshua. 

So, whatever you are facing today I ask you: who does the battle belong to? We often try to fight our battles on our own. We pray, but then do not rely on his power but instead attempt to muster up our own. I encourage you today to allow God to fight your battles. Maybe you are able to work your way through some of the issues you face, but at some point we all get depleted. Cast your eyes on the Lord. Throw off your burdens. Come into his Kingdom and experience his rest.