Joshua: The Meeting with God

• Review

• What has occurred up to this point and what have we learned through these events?

• Joshua’s preparation for leadership.
• Rahab & spies.
• Crossing Jordan.
• The people are about to finally see the Promised Land
• Many years have passed since the promise was made to Abraham. (Gen.12:1-2, 7)
• Abraham made an altar on the other side of the Jordan to ‘claim’ this Land that God had promised to him. Now the altar stands in the Jordan as a memorial to His goodness all these years.

2Preparation for Receiving Promise Land Blessings

• They had just crossed the Jordan…and they stop. Joshua 5:1-8
  • This seems to typical military thinking.
  • Instead of charging, they stop…for !
  • Circumcision was the first rite observed by the people.
  • Circumcision was a of the at this time (and even today).
  • They were circumcised as a sign that they were reborn as subjects of God under His Law.
  • The true Church is circumcised by the Holy Spirit to show we are reborn as citizens of His Heavenly Kingdom and subjects of His will.
  • "In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead." (Colossians 2:11-12, NIV)
  • Christ circumcises our heart to make us wholly His.
  • This inward act of full surrender is physically demonstrated in the church by water baptism.
  • This act represented a in obedience to God.
• The place is called Gilgal for a reason. Joshua 5:9
  • Preparation of the heart was obviously more important than taking a military advantage to attack while Jericho lay in fear.
  • These Israelites were taking 3 days to consecrate their hearts before partaking of God’s Promise.
• Passover was the second rite observed by the people. Joshua 5:10-12
  • This was a moment to remember the fresh events that brought Passover into existence.
  • stopped raining from heaven here.
  • Manna was a result of God’s mercy through their disbelief.
  • For the first time of many to come, the people feasted at Passover with the produce of Canaan – no more need for manna!
  • There was an eradication of the memory of disbelief with the cessation of manna.

3Introducing the Heavenly Military Commander

• Joshua meets a suspicious man near Jericho. 5:13-15

  • He recognizes that this man is different – an angel perhaps?

  • We can assume that this is probably a - Christ.
  • Worship of angels is forbidden.
  • God cannot appear in human form except in the person of Christ.
  • This is probably the same person who appeared in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve.
  • This heavenly visitor assumes a dominant role to Joshua.
  • Joshua does not this authority.
  • Joshua seems to immediately take orders from this individual.
• Question:

  • Why do you think Joshua was seemingly so ready to supplant his authority to someone he never met before?

  • This messenger was the commander of the armies of heaven.

  • We do not often think that there is a military in heaven. Why would God need military?

  • “ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:10-12, NIV)
  • This commander led hosts of heavenly beings in endeavors.
  • There are many instances of the heavenly military in Scripture.
• The Lord’s armies have actually been revealed before! 2 Kings 6
  • Jesus voiced His command over this army when He faced the cross.
  • "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:53, NIV)
  • Jericho had to be dealt with.
  • This city could not be left in the rear to attack later.
  • The Hebrews could not afford a long siege.
  • Jericho posed a problem for Joshua – and he knew it.
• Question:
  • What force was it really

  • That knocked the walls of Jericho down?

  • What Side is it that God is on?

• God’s military commander stated what side He was on. 5:13-14
  • God is not on our side – His children are on His side.
  • He is ; we are .
  • He makes the rules and lays out battle plans; WE can be , not the other way around.
  • “The point of the exchange seems to be that it was not for Joshua to claim the allegiance of God for his cause, however right it was, but rather for God to claim Joshua.” – Boice, Comm. on Joshua
  • Joshua’s response: worship.
  • He did not argue the point with this heavenly commander.
  • He quickly surrendered his own views of things and bowed down.

4Strength in the Lord – the Best Kind

• God’s people must constantly remember that strength is found in the Lord.
• "I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."
• (Psalm 118:13-14, NIV)
• "Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength."
• (Psalm 29:1, NIV)
• Joshua knew who was in control and revealed it in his response.
• Joshua removed his sandals because he recognized the presence.
• Joshua came face-to-face with the True Commander & responded perfectly.
• Joshua knew where strength and victory would come from.
• "This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."
• (Psalm 34:6-8, NIV)