“The Preparation for Battle”
Joshua 5:1-15

1. The impact of the MIRACLE at the Jordan River.
Vs. 1
1) The POWER of the news that they heard.
Notice it was all the kings of the Canaanites.

2) The PANIC that they experienced.
Vs. 1b
We should be reminded that this was in fulfillment of predictive prophecy given by Moses, in the Song of Moses.

2. The MEMORIAL of circumcision is reestablished.
Vs. 2-9
1) The REQUIREMENT of circumcision.
Vs. 2
-1 It was COMMANDED by God.
There is a parallel incident just before Moses encounters Pharaoh in Exodus 4:24–26.

-2 It was the second CIRCUMCISION of the children of Israel as a nation.
Notice the word, “again”.
It has been 40 years since this was done as a nation.

-3 It was the sign of the COVENANT of the Lord that was to be remembered.
The institution of circumcision as the covenant sign goes back to God’s instructions to Abraham in Genesis 17:10–14.

2) The REASON for the circumcision is given.
Vs. 4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them:

It is the PRIORITY of our hearts.
What was the purpose of circumcision?
It was a sign of faith by the parents.
Romans 4:11, Rom 2:28-29

The Old Testament recognized that circumcision was a matter of the heart. Moses said to his people,
Deut 30:6
The New Testament also describes a true believer in terms of inner circumcision:
Col 2:9-12

3) The REPROACH of the people had been rolled away.
Vs. 8
The Hebrew word “cherpah (kher-paw”;
from OT:2778 or “reproach” is used 75 times. It means shame or disgrace.
Ps 119:39-40
Ps 69:7-9
How do we turn away the reproach?
It is by repenting of our sins and asking forgiveness.


3. The MANNA ends as the Passover is kept.
Vs. 10-12
1) PASSOVER in the promise Land.
Deut. 6:15; 15:15; 16:12; 24:18, 22

2) The PRODUCE of the Land would replace the manna.
The Passover was followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread when for a week the Jews avoided leaven (yeast) and ate unleavened bread (Ex. 12:15, 18–20). When Israel entered Canaan, it was time for the barley harvest; thus grain was available. Ps 23:5


4. The MEETING with the commander of the Lord’s army.
Vs. 13-15
1) The CONQUEST that was pictured
Vs. 13
Vs. 13b And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, "Are You for us or for our adversaries?"
In other words, “You have the question wrong, Joshua, because I am the commander of the army of the Lord” (v. 14).
He has come not to take sides but to take charge.

2) The CONTROL that He emphasized.
Vs. 14 So He said, "No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come."
245 times the Messiah is called the Lord of Host or Armies.



3) The COMMITMENT of Joshua.
Vs. 14b
He falls prostrate to the earth in worship (and is not rebuked). He is told that he is on holy ground, and so in reverence and obedience he takes off his sandals (v. 15).



4) The CONVERSATION reveals the identity of this commander.
Vs. 14b-15

This paragraph records one of the pre-incarnation appearances of the Lord Jesus Christ recorded in the Old Testament.
To Abraham the pilgrim, the Lord came as a traveler to share in a friendly meal (Gen. 18:1–8).
To Jacob, He came as a wrestler to bring him to the place of submission (32:24–32).
The three Hebrew men met Him as their companion in the furnace of fire (Dan. 3:25)

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