March 24: Joshua 5-8

March 24, Joshua 5-8

Joshua 5 is a powerful chapter, as the Nation of Israel has now entered the Promised Land. What is one of the first things that Joshua does? He circumcised all the males. The previous generation had been circumcised per God’s command, and now this generation needed to be. Amazing that the previous generation hadn’t kept the commandment of God. Now this new generation has to be circumcised as adults. Thanks mom and dad… But putting all kidding aside, this new generation was going to keep God’s commandments no matter how hard it would be. They have been traveling around for 40 years and so now it was time to reinstitute it. After they had all healed up, Joshua had them keep the Passover. There was no more manna to eat, because now they could eat the fruits of the land! Their own land… This Passover is remembered as a sort of second Exodus for the Israelites.

Then towards the end of the chapter we read about Joshua’s encounter with a ‘man’ waving a sword. Joshua basically asks him if he was for them or against them… the response: neither - but I am the commander of the Lord’s army! Joshua fell down and then the commander told him (like was told to Moses) to take off his sandals, because he is on Holy Ground. God was going before them and had already been preparing the way… and He just showed it!

Joshua 6. The city of Jericho was locked inside its own city because the Israelites had them surrounded. (See photo of depiction of Jericho) God told Joshua - take a look!

read the study notes... pretty cool stuff!

The city is in your hand because I have given it to you, including the King of Jericho and his mighty men! Then God tells Joshua a very strange war plan that makes no logical sense (but God’s ways are not mans ways…) What were they to do? March around the city, everyday, for six days. Then have the priests take their trumpets and blow them walking before the ark. Then, on the seventh day, march around the city 7 times, and the priests blow their trumpets and when they blow the ram horn, have everyone yell at the top of their lungs. And this will make the walls come tumbling down. Yup - sounds like a solid battle plan to me. Although you didn’t see anyone trying to do that at the Alamo. Regardless of my sarcasm, it really was a winning plan. Joshua told the men the plan. And they believed in the Lord and chose to obey the plan… Joshua told them to do it but to make not even a whisper for the first six days while walking around the city walls. They did what they were supposed to for the six days. On the seventh day, they walked around the city 7 times in silence, as they did it again, but this time they gave a shout to the Lord! Remember the story of Rahab? During this time, she would have remembered the promise made to her and had her family in her house for these 7 days, to be saved. They were commanded by Joshua to protect Rahab the prostitute and her family (man of his word) and to kill everyone else and keep none of the plunder - the plunder that they would keep, was to go straight for God’s house. As they were yelling, the walls literally fell over. We are talking about concrete style walls, about 4.5 feet wide, not some pretend weak paper walls! Then the Israelites went in to take over. The two men that Rahab had saved, went and brought her and her family out for protection, and she and her family lived in Israel. Everything that wasn’t saved for the House of the Lord, was devoted to destruction. After the battle, Joshua put a curse on any nation or man who ever tries to rebuild Jericho - it symbolized Canaan’s sinful lifestyle - completely against what God wanted for His people. 

Joshua 7. Unfortunately, the obedience of the Israelites doesn't last very long… The entire nation is directly affected because of one guy, Achan, from the tribe of Judah. He took some of the items that were supposed to be either put in the Tabernacle or destroyed. We get back to that story soon, but we are told about it because it sets the stage for what is about to happen… Joshua sends more spies to go to Ai, a wicked city not far away from them, and check it out. They came back and told Joshua, no problem - we can take them out easy. Joshua decided to send about 3,000 men to attack them, but instead of winning, they they got their rear ends kicked by a weaker nation and 36 men died that day. Why? God was not with them. Joshua had not sought God’s divine guidance and was probably feeling pretty good about himself after they had just pummeled Jericho. But let’s remember, God gave them Jericho. In response, Joshua and the elders fell to the ground and mourned before the Lord. They almost go old school Israelite and complain about being brought out there only to die… Aren't we passed that yet? Nope… 

God told Joshua to get up! Israel has sinned by keeping some things for themselves that were supposed to be destroyed - devoted to destruction. Joshua tells all the Israelites to get cleaned up (consecrated) because tomorrow they have to stand before Yahweh. God literally showed Joshua and the elders by casting lots, which is like throwing dice and knowing the outcome is from God on God’s literal choice of whom it was that stole from the city. They narrowed it down to Achan. Achan, when confronted, knew he had sinned against God because he took some silver, a coat, and some gold. Then he told them where it was hidden. As a side note, theologians surmise that back then, what he stole would have been worth more money than a laborer would have made in his entire lifetime - thus the temptation. They took him outside, with his whole family, including all his belongings and burned them, then stoned them, and buried them under a pile of stones, and then God’s anger subsided. Does that seem outrageous to you? I think it is interesting that even after a confession, God still demands that the sins that effected the nation needed to be dealt with harshly. Think about it from God’s side - He provides everything that they need and gives them victory and prosperity - but that isn't enough for some of His people… I would want to get rid of that poison before it infected everyone else as well (I just don't have the authority to take it as far as God does!).

Joshua 8 is a redemption chapter! God told Joshua to not be afraid and go after the city of Ai because God has given it to them. And this time, they get to keep the plunder. I am sure Achan wished he would have obeyed and waited, he could have kept some gold and a coat. God does have His ways. God gives Joshua a battle plan to go behind the city and lay an ambush and this time Joshua goes in with 30,000 (not 3,000) mighty men of courage and commands them to go, because this time God was with them and had given plans for winning to the Israelites. They attacked and obeyed - without the ambush it would not have gone so well! God told Joshua to stretch out a javelin towards Ai and then they ran and captured the city, no survivors, except the King of Ai which they later hung and threw his body on the heap of ruins at the entrance of the city. The entire time, Joshua held his arm out with the Javelin pointing at the city in obedience to God! (This mirrors when Moses was leading the Israelites in battle with the Amalekites and he had to hold his arm up, for them to win the battle. Exodus 17) 

Then Joshua renews the covenant and built an altar unto God. Then they re-read all the words of the Law, reminding them of the blessings and the curses for their obedience.

To sum it all up:

• Let’s be honest - if you knew the Lord had sent to you the commander of His army to go before you, would you not have all the confidence in the Lord? Well, in Christ, we have that protection now, everyday and in every way.
• Are you seeking God before you make decisions? We must be on our knees before God Almighty asking and obeying His guidance. If we don’t, the results can be disastrous. 
• Don’t keep looking back on your life either to miss the way it was or live in regrets. There is an old saying… If you are driving down the road and are constantly looking into your rear-view mirror, sooner or later you are going to crash and hit something right in front of you… So, keep your eyes on Jesus and go where He leads you!
• We have temptations all around us that lure us away from being obedient to God. There is not one temptation that should overcome us - because of the resurrecting power and blood of JEsus Christ that we can lean on and cling to. Will you obey God? Even if you don't get to keep the plunder…