22 February, 2010

Text: Joshua 5

FEAR CAUSED BY THE LORD

1. This was a special sense of fear sent by the Lord

a) Promised    Exodus 23:27

b) Fulfilled    Joshua 2:10; 5:1

2. People affected

a) All the kings of the Amorites    Joshua 5:1a

b) All the kings of the Canaanites    Joshua 5:1b

3. Mighty miracles

a) Crossing of the Red Sea    Exodus 14-15

b) Crossing of the River Jordan    Joshua 4

CIRCUMCISION OF THE SECOND GENERATION

1. Command of the Lord
"Circumcise the sons of Israel"    Joshua 5:2

2. Compliance by Joshua
"So Joshua made flint knives... and circumcised the sons of Israel"    Joshua 5:3

3. Reason for this circumcision exercise
"For all the people who came out (of Egypt) had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness...had not been circumcised"    Joshua 5:4

a) Disobedience of their fathers    Joshua 5:6

b) The next generation were not presented for circumcision in Moses' day

c) Serious breach of the Abraham covenant Genesis 17:

"And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant."    Genesis 17:14

d) Israel had to return to fulfilment of the Abrahamic Covenant before attempting to conquer the Land of Canaan!

GILGAL (Rolling away of reproach)

1. The Memorial Stones were placed here in Gilgal    Joshua 4:19

2. Circumcision of the 2nd generation took place here    Joshua 5:1-8

3. Kept the Passover at Gilgal    Joshua 5:10

THE PLAINS OF JERICHO
Joshua 5:13-15

1. The Appearance of the Commander of the Lord's army

a) Manifestation
"A Man stood opposite him with a sword drawn in his hand"    Joshua 5:13c

b) Challenge of Joshua
"Are you for us or for our adversaries"    Joshua 5:13
c) Reply "No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come"    Joshua 5:14

2. Joshua's response

a) Fell on his face    Joshua 5:14b

b) Worshipped    Joshua 5:14c

c) Submission
"What does my Lord say to His servant"    Joshua 5:14d

3. A necessary word
"Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy."    Joshua 5:15a

a) Divine order

b) Holy ground

c) Reminiscent of Moses' encounter with the Lord    Exodus 3:5

4. Complete obedience "And Joshua did so"    Joshua 5:15b