Consecrated to God (Joshua 5:1-6:27) Two more things remained before the people of God were ready for their first battle in taking the land of Canaan. First, they had to be circumcised. Second, Joshua had to be clear about who was to be the general over the army of God. Circumcision was an outward sign of being consecrated to God. God had commanded Abraham, the first Jew, to have every male born in his family circumcised as a sign of consecration. It was to be established in the hearts of the people by this outward act before any of the Promised Land was taken. All that they were or would have as a people was to be consecrated to God. They were to be a unique nation. All that had come from God had to be given back to God for His use and purposes. It was to be a pattern for the nations of the world to see. As long as Israel kept this consecration at the center of their lives, they would be a people that revealed God's glory and bounty for the world to see. But they were warned that if they took what was God's and did what they pleased with it, He would remove from them everything He had given them. The lesson is obvious. We who are God's people cannot get away with what this fallen world can when it comes to consecration. Those who reject God are not His people and He leaves them to suffer whatever natural consequences, good or bad, occur in their lives. It is at the Great White Throne of Judgment where the lost will be judged. But we are God's people. As a Father, He will not bear forever the misuse of what He has given His children. As a father, He will discipline His children for their ultimate good. Joshua had to personally accept a life of consecration as leader of this new nation. This was made clear to him when he encountered the "commander" of the army of God. This manifestation of God made it clear that the real battles belong to the Lord. The point being that Joshua had to consecrate himself and be under the authority of God in the battles he led. God promised great success to Joshua, but he could not think that these successes came independent of consecration. We see the fruit of this in the amazing victory over Jericho. God commanded an unconventional approach to taking the city, a seemingly impossible one. But Joshua, consecrated to the Lord, did what he was told to do with his army. The success was complete! Consecration must be foremost in our taking and using all that God gives us. Otherwise, we should not be surprised when God removes Himself from prospering what He has given us to be and do. Joshua 5:1-6:27 1 So it was, when all the kings of the Amorites who were on the west side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had crossed over, that their heart melted; and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel. 2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time." 3 So Joshua made flint knives for himself, and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way, after they had come out of Egypt. 5 For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they came out of Egypt, had not been circumcised. 6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD—to whom the LORD swore that He would not show them the land which the LORD had sworn to their fathers that He would give us, "a land flowing with milk and honey." 7 Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
"And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood 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?' So He said, 'No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.' And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, 'What does my Lord say to His servant?'" -Joshua 5:13-14NKJV Bible Text
The Second Generation Circumcised
| The Second Generation Circumcised v. 1 King of the Amorites – The Amorites of this confederacy of city-states were gripped with fear, a fulfillment of Exodus 23:27 and also a confirmation of Rahab's statements (2:11). Some of the Amorite people on the eastern side of the Jordan had already been conquered (3:10). v. 2 Flint Knives – These were considered the sharpest knives available. v. 3 Circumcised a Second Time – The first time was a reference to the circumcision that had been done on all the men under Moses 40 years earlier. Hill of the Foreskins – Literally this is "Gibeath Haraloth" in Hebrew. "Foreskins" refers to the skin that was cut off as a part of the circumcision. | v. 5 Not Been Circumcised – There was no reason given for why they did not circumcise the children eight days after birth as God had commanded. One reason may have been simply because of their rebellion against God. God chose circumcision as an outward sign of being marked as a people separated from the nations around them. Because their hearts were not separated unto God, it is possible that the circumcision was not emphasized because it would have been a meaningless act with no corresponding reality in their hearts. v. 6 Did Not Obey – Their rebellion had many expressions. However, the one referred to here would have most likely been their unwillingness to obey God by going into the Promised Land to possess God's promise to them. Flowing with Milk and Honey – This common expression through the Pentateuch expressed abundant fertility. Milk spoke of the cows, goats, and sheet that produced it, and the lush grazing they required. Honey referred to the abundance of not only bee honey but also the many other tasty fruits and vegetables of the land. |
8 So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed. 9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day. 10 Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho. 11 And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day. 12 Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year. The Commander of the Army of the LORD 13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood 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 So He said, "No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?" 15 Then the Commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so.
| v. 9 Rolled Away the Reproach – Through circumcision, the people of Israel declared that their slavery under Egypt was behind them. The idolatrous influence and immoral practices that they had accepted in Egypt were removed from them. By acting in faith to the call to cross over the Jordan, they said they were willing to become a new people. The past was behind them. Passover – The Passover was a ceremony that celebrated God's protection of all those who came under the protection of the blood of the Passover lamb. God declared that a death angel would pass through Egypt and the first born in each family would die. However, any family that by faith sacrificed an unblemished lamb and then marked their door with its blood was saved. The Passover feast was reestablished at this time as evidence that they were a saved people, protected from the judgment of God. v. 12 Manna Ceased – The people were not in need of a divine miracle to feed them any longer, so this miracle ceased. If regular natural means are available, we should not presume to expect a "miracle." | Commander Of The Army Of The Lord v. 13 You For Us – Joshua asked to whom this mighty warrior was aligned. The warrior said neither. He is Lord over the hosts of heavenly angels. Thus Joshua discerned that it was up to him to be on the side of this Captain of God's angels. God can be depended on to fight our battles if our battles are truly His! v. 14 Worshiped – Only God was to be worshiped, something Joshua obviously knew. This is therefore a theophany, or physical manifestation of God. It is also important to note that the title "Lord" used here is the same title given to our Lord Jesus Christ. What Does My Lord Say – This revealed the authority under which Joshua had to submit himself if he expected to win any battles with God's help. Sandals Off – This act of humility was similar to that which was required of Moses when God encountered him in the Sinai desert (Ex. 3:5). |
Joshua 6 The Destruction of Jericho 1 Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2 And the LORD said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him." 6 Then Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD." 7 And he said to the people, "Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the LORD."
| Chapter 6 The Destruction Of Jericho v. 1 Securely Shut Up – This is an explanatory statement by the writer of this account before he went on to convey what had happened between Joshua and the Lord in their encounter just outside the city of Jericho. The city had been secured, a common practice in ancient times when an attack was anticipated. Because of the thick walls around the city and the bolted gates, a siege could take months. Often the one with the most stored food would win. Either the city was starved out, or the army ran out of provisions over the extended siege. v. 2 Lord Said – This is a continuation of the encounter recorded in 5:13-15. See I Have Given – God asked Joshua to see by faith what He had promised would soon be seen in physical reality. This is an example of what Hebrews 11:1 declares, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." In Romans 4:17, Abraham expresses a similar example of faith in God, when it says of God that He "calls the things which do not exist as though they did." Mighty Men of Valor – Along with the King, the warriors of this regional center of power were a great source of fear and intimidation. Therefore, God specifically faced this by declaring victory over them. v. 3 March Around the City – After the extensive preparation recorded up to this point, there had finally come God's specific instructions on how the Israelites would begin conquering the Land of Promise. Now we can see why there was such an extensive process of spiritual preparation prior to following God's instruction about taking the land. God's ways, as seen here, were definitely not man's ways. Because they prepared themselves with a series of steps that gave them consecrated and obedient hearts, they were able to receive this strange method for the overthrow of Jericho. As the songwriter William Cowper wrote, "God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform." | v. 3 Men of War – This referred to those within the camp of Israel who were of fighting age. v. 4 Seven Priests – These seven priests were to follow the men of war in this march. At times in scripture, the number seven was used as a sign of completion (i.e. as in the days of creation). Here it was used in their first battle to convey the promise that God would complete His promise of divine intervention for the Jews. Seven Trumpets – In this passage, the word for the Jubilee trumpets is used. There were Jubilee trumpets, "jobel" in Hebrew, and silver trumpets (Num. 10:2). The silver trumpets were generally used to call the people of Israel together (Num. 10:9). The Jubilee trumpets, in the shape of a horn, were used to announce the year of Jubilee and the Sabbatical years. According to Leviticus 25, the Year of Jubilee was celebrated every 50 years. During this year, any Israelite who had sold himself into slavery because of debt was set free, all ancestral lands that had been lost due to debt were returned, and all agricultural work was to cease in order to provide rest for the people and the land. Every seventh year was a Sabbath year. During this year, the people and the land were given rest from agricultural work. Blow the Trumpets – These large horns gave a far-reaching sound (Lev. 23:24, 25:9). v. 5 Shall Shout – This was a shout of praise in faith for what God would do. Fall Down Flat – The steps of faith had to precede the results of faith. It was only after the seven-day process of obedient faith to God's direction that the results occurred. v. 6 Take Up the Ark – We have here one of many details that God gave Joshua not recorded in the summary statements in v. 2-5. The ark was the emblem of God's presence. v. 7 Advance Before – There was to be a company of soldiers in front of the ark and the rest of the soldiers following behind (v. 9). We see God signifying that His presence would be in the midst of the army to help and protect it. |
8 So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. 9 The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. 10 Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, "You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, 'Shout!' Then you shall shout." 11 So he had the ark of the LORD circle the city, going around it once. Then they came into the camp and lodged in the camp. 12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13 Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually and blew with the trumpets. And the armed men went before them. But the rear guard came after the ark of the LORD, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. 14 And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did six days. 15 But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. 16 And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: "Shout, for the LORD has given you the city! 17 Now the city shall be doomed by the LORD to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the LORD; they shall come into the treasury of the LORD."
| v. 8 Joshua Spoke the Word – We see in this the vital role of leadership in guiding God's people into obedient faith. v. 9 Rear Guard – We see laid out in this march: 1) a company of warriors, 2) the seven priests with the seven horns, 3) the ark, 4) the rear guard of warriors. Blowing the Trumpets – This was a glorious proclamation of their faith each day in receiving their Promised Land (v. 4) as they marched around the walls. v. 10 Shout! – There was to be worshipful, awe-filled silence until the seventh day at the appointed time. v. 14 Did Six Days – Verses 12-14 describe how the instructions were actually carried out. | v. 15 Seventh Day – Verses 15-16 describe the last day of this march, concluding with their shout of faith and praise to God that the walls would come down. v. 17 Only Rahab – Because of her faith in God manifested by protecting God's servants, this prostitute and all in her family that had come under her roof were protected (See notes on chapter 2). v. 18 Abstain – This city had been wholly given over to immorality and idolatry. God warned that if they took these things dedicated to Satan and wickedness, the curse that was upon them would bring a terrible curse upon the people of God. Treasury of the Lord – They were to keep only what could be sanctified for use by God. |
20 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. 21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword. 22 But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, "Go into the harlot's house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her." 23 And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel. 24 But they burned the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. 25 And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father's household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. 26 Then Joshua charged them at that time, saying, "Cursed be the man before the LORD who rises up and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn, and with his youngest he shall set up its gates." 27 So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout all the country.
| v. 21 Utterly Destroyed – The complete destruction of this idolatrous city is an example of what it means in the New Testament to fall into the hands of a Holy God. God judges sin. That is why there is not only a heaven to bless those who come by obedient faith but a hell to judge those who are in rebellion to Him. v. 22 Bring Out the Woman – Joshua made sure that the promise of protection for Rahab was acted on. So it is with all of God's promises. v. 23 Outside the Camp – This was done as a temporary measure to introduce these Gentiles to the process of consecration to God. | v. 25 Dwells In Israel – After the process of consecration, Rahab became a part of the people of God. She ended up marrying into the bloodline of Jesus Christ, which is recorded in Matthew 1:5. v. 26 Cursed Be – A man did in fact seek to build on this same spot years later, according to 1 Kings 16:34. In the process, two of this man's sons died. v. 27 Fame – We should never seek fame but instead a life of obedient faith. God will sometimes allow His servant some form of fame if it will ultimately point people to the God from whom all blessings flow. He does this because such fame will always result in bringing glory to what God has done in the person. |
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