Joshua 5:1-15
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The God of Restoration and Renewal
The God of Restoration and Renewal
The Bible is a story of Restoration and Renewal, because there is a need for it. Why?
Because of SIN..the relationship between God and man was broken.
Man wandered away from God…and is hell-bound because of disobedience and rebellion against His Creator.
Restoration and Renewal, Reconciliation and salvation is the goal of God in coming to EARTH in the person of Jesus Christ. He paid the penalty of our sins by shedding his blood on the Cross. He died so that we might live and live forevermore!!!
Going back to the text, Joshua (which means YWHW Saves) is the leader God appointed to lead the Restoration and Renewal of the covenant people of God before they can enter the promised land.
I. The Melted and Discouraged hearts of the Enemies (v.1)
I. The Melted and Discouraged hearts of the Enemies (v.1)
1 Now it came about when 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 how the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed, that their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel.
The author is telling us the setting - what is the situation after they crossed the Jordan River?
The miracle of the Jordan crossing causes the hearts of the Kings to be melted and afraid (v.1)
- That’s what the power of God does to his enemies. When someone realizes that God is powerful to destroy your life - you would melt in fear.
- Sadly, although people know that they can’t win against God, still they go against God. That is called PRIDE. The opposite of humble submission is PRIDE. Many fell and experienced destruction because of PRIDE.
II. The Command to Circumcise the sons of Israel (vv. 2-6)
II. The Command to Circumcise the sons of Israel (vv. 2-6)
2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time.” 3 So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.
4 This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way after they came out of Egypt. 5 For all the people who came out were circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised. 6 For the sons of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished because they did not listen to the voice of the Lord, to whom the Lord had sworn that He would not let them see the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
Reason:
The first generation already died (verses 4), because they have not listened to God (v.6)
The new generation has not yet circumcised (verse 5)
III. The Restoration of the Covenant through Circumcision (vv.7-9)
III. The Restoration of the Covenant through Circumcision (vv.7-9)
7 Their children whom He raised up in their place, Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them along the way. 8 Now when they had finished circumcising all the nation, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed. 9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.
Rolled away the reproach (disgrace, insult) of Egypt from you -
The circumcision during the wilderness journey was suspended because of their disobedience.
The command to circumcise the new generation is God lifting the suspension and renewing them again as covenant people of God. Circumcision is a mark of their identity as people of God.
The circumcision is the symbol and mark of God’s covenant between Abraham and his offspring. It marks their belongingness to God. That they are people belonging to YHWH.
For the Christians, the Holy Spirit, the Third person of the Trinity is the mark, seal, the guarantee of our unity with Christ, that we belong to Christ and our identity in Christ.
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
You will know that you belong to Christ because you will experience the working of the Holy Spirit changing your hearts desire, convicting you of sin, teaching you the truth of God, rebuking you of sins, empowering you to say no to sins, comforting you when you doubt and when you are weary.
Our new identity is marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit transforming us to become more and more like the savior Jesus Christ.
A Lesson About Waiting
8 Now when they had finished circumcising all the nation, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.
They must be excited to take the promise land. While the enemy are afraid (v.1)
However, they must wait for God’s leading. They must obey and wait.
Philosophy of the world - Strike while the Iron is Hot!
Biblical teaching - Seek and wait patiently for the LORD!
Human Problem: Failure to seek and wait for the LORD
- why do we have to go through circumcision? Is it really necessary? Does being circumcised guarantees victory? What if the enemy will attack us while we are not yet healed? This should be the best time to attack while the enemies are afraid!
Remember, God has to prepare them spiritually. They are not yet ready... They must be renewed first, through circumcision.
Remember, God is never in a hurry, kita raman mga tao ang pirming gusto magdali bisan dili pa ready....
It is their obedience in God that guarantees victory, not the circumcision. The circumcision is an act of submission and obedience through which God is honored and glorified.
Their submission to get circumcised is an act of trusting God to protect them while they are physically unable to protect themselves. They believed that they are under the protection of the living God!
IV. The Renewal of the Passover Celebration (vv. 10-12)
IV. The Renewal of the Passover Celebration (vv. 10-12)
10 While the sons of Israel camped at Gilgal they observed the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the desert plains of Jericho.
Without circumcision, they cannot participate the Passover celebration.
God’s timing behind the Passover Celebration is intentional. God’s timing is always precise!
They Passover celebration allows them to remember power of God in the exodus of the first generation who came out of Egypt. They must remember the mighty work of God in giving them victory over the Egyptians.
The Passover reminded them of God’s deliverance so they will be encouraged to face the future and claim the land.
A Lesson about Trusting God to Provide
11 On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year.
The first Passover celebration in Canaan marked the end of their wilderness journey for they were able to eat the produce of Canaan and God stopped giving them manna for food.
They can now work the land to produce food and so God stopped giving them manna. What a great change of situation, this is not an easy change of situation. They were dependent on God to just send manna day after day.
Now, they have to work the land, to labor and experience hardships. Why?
It’s like a loss of fortune, loss of income, loss of health, loos of sight or hearing...we might ask, why? why the hardship? Well, we must understand that the manna was temporary provision...remember as well that whatever we have in this world (money, health, resources, work, etc...) are just temporary provisions...God gives and God takes, blessed be the name of the LORD.
The manna (the bread from heaven) is a temporary provision - God’s eternal provision is the Bread of Life - Jesus Christ!
30 So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? 31 “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 “For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
The Death of Jesus the lamb of God and bread of life, His death on the cross is the culmination of the Passover. It is the ultimate celebration, for Jesus died once and for all. His sacrificial death, gives new meaning to the celebration...
Because of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, those who believe in him will never walk in wilderness again. They will enjoy God’s gift of eternal life. This is the Good News!!!
The blood of the lamb protected the Israelites from God’s judgment. The Blood of the Lamb of God Jesus Christ protected the believers from God’s judgment.
V. The Encouraging Presence of the Commander of the Army of the LORD (vv. 13-15)
V. The Encouraging Presence of the Commander of the Army of the LORD (vv. 13-15)
13 Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” 14 He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” 15 The captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
The appearance of the Captain of the Commander of the LORD is a reminder of God’s presence and God’s anointing over Joshua.
This is similar to Moses’s experience with the burning bush. Here, God visited Joshua and Joshua humbled himself. Joshua is the successor of Moses and this shows continuity of God’ working.
The appearance of the Commander might encourage Joshua that the commander of the LORD’s army goes with them. That God would fight for them. That must give Joshua the strength and courage to lead the Israelites.
Some scholars believed that the Commander is an appearance of the pre-incarnate Son of God (Jesus) , as verse 15 reveals that the ground is made holy by God’s presence.
Conclusion:
God’s grace is exhibited in restoring sinful people that they might experience the enduring love of God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
God’s grace is exhibited in restoring sinful people that they might experience the enduring love of God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.