The Book of Joshua - DoorDash God
Joshua 5
Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.
A melted heart signifies a complete loss of strength. The people in Canaan were stunned at what happened. They could see about 2 million Israelites massed on the bank of the Jordan River. There was already a sense of fear.
But the Jordan seemed like a great defensive barrier. It was a river at flood stage. They thought they had some time to prepare before the flood stage receded, but then, suddenly, they crossed, and the waters parted.
So, the Canaanites were suddenly faced with a huge problem. There was a sense that a God – a powerful God – was with this vast army. There had been rumors and legends. There was an awareness among the Canaanites that Israelite spies were in the land, surveying it.
Judgment
Not only was there a God, there was a sense that judgment was coming. The Canaanites worshiped detestable gods and engaged in detestable practices. This wasn’t just a difference of opinion, these were obvious wrongs.
Yet, they didn’t repent for the same reasons we don’t.
But then they realize they’re wrong.
What if that’s true for us, too? If you know the enemy is back on their heels, what do you do? Attack! But at a time where it seems so appropriate to rush forward…
Joshua 5
2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.
Look at the word “again.” This had become a neglected practice in the wilderness, and understandably so. But it was the sign of God’s covenant, His promise. He’s reaffirming His promise – to be their God, but also to give them the land.
God is faithful, even when they’ve been unfaithful.
Obedience
But to receive the promise, they had to come into obedience. Obedience will always have a cost – it will always be “painful.” Perhaps not in this way, but it will always be something we’d prefer not to experience.
Joshua 5
4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. 6 The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.
9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.
The Israelites are ready to go. Their enemies have been caught unprepared. They’re back on their heels. God just did this incredible miracle at the river. Momentum is on their side. So, they decide to do a circumcision.
This was an outward sign of God’s covenant and the renewal of God’s covenant with His people in the Old Testament. Being delicate about it, they do this ritual that involves cutting, pain, and healing. It makes those who are physically strong temporarily weak.
Suddenly, the momentum is on the side of Canaan. The Israelites are in no condition to fight a battle anymore.
God’s timing is as important as God’s will, and God’s timing is almost always not our timing.
But there’s even more than timing. The people had been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, and the previous generation who had come out of Egypt died in the wilderness. In Numbers 13, 12 spies had been sent into the land to scope it out. Ten of them returned, thinking the cities were fortified, the people were powerful, and they couldn’t do it. Two returned, thinking that with God, they could do it, and one of these two people was Joshua. However, the people lost heart and faith in God when an overwhelming majority of the 12 returned with a negative review.
Very often, judgment is us getting the natural consequence of our actions.
It’s not punitive, it’s just consequential. When a kid touches a hot stove, it’s painful but not punitive. It’s cause and effect.
Joshua 5
10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. 11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain.
Return
Passover was the celebration of God’s faithfulness in bringing the people out of Egypt. There’s a return and then a remembrance. We can only build on remembrance of God’s faithfulness if we’re also willing to return to Him.
Joshua 5
12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.
The manna was God’s provision in the desert. It wasn’t extravagant, but it was enough. Even in rebellion, even in the desert, God remained faithful when His people were not faithful. God is saying, “Your desert season is over.”
But it’s under the condition of a reconsecration, turning back, trusting, and reclaiming of the promise. Sometimes, we are in the desert, praying to get out, and it seems like those prayers go unanswered. But what if God is trying to get our attention and saying, “Return to me?”
They are eating the fruit of the land but have to pick the fruit on their own and harvest the grain. It’s not falling out of the sky anymore. It’s similar to DoorDash, and we confuse God with DoorDash. We think that God is going to show up exactly where we want with what we want, and we don’t have to do anything.
Some of us look for manna to fall from the sky, but when the manna stops, we freak out about it. Some of us return to God, and instead of things getting easier, they feel like they’ve gotten harder. But you’re still holding onto the promise. It’s not that God’s provision has stopped, it’s moved on.
God is always faithful to you, but He knows that what you need now is different than what you needed back there.
God’s faithfulness isn’t tied to what He did – it’s tied to who He is. His faithfulness doesn’t change, His supply matches your season.
Joshua 5
13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” 14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”
The question for Joshua and us isn’t, “Is God on our side?” It’s, “Are we on God’s side?” God doesn’t take our side, we can only consecrate ourselves to God’s side.
Joshua 5
Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
This is a call back to Moses and the Burning Bush – a bookend. But it’s also a fresh consecration moment for Joshua – a return.
So, what is God asking of you? It’s going to be unique for every person. Asking the Spirit of God what He has for you and what needs to be consecrated to Him is the most significant thing any of us can do.
Want to play catch-up, or are you looking for a specific topic? Check out our collection of sermons and Season 2 of our podcast, LHC Unplugged!
For more LHC content, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram.
Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.
A melted heart signifies a complete loss of strength. The people in Canaan were stunned at what happened. They could see about 2 million Israelites massed on the bank of the Jordan River. There was already a sense of fear.
But the Jordan seemed like a great defensive barrier. It was a river at flood stage. They thought they had some time to prepare before the flood stage receded, but then, suddenly, they crossed, and the waters parted.
So, the Canaanites were suddenly faced with a huge problem. There was a sense that a God – a powerful God – was with this vast army. There had been rumors and legends. There was an awareness among the Canaanites that Israelite spies were in the land, surveying it.
Judgment
Not only was there a God, there was a sense that judgment was coming. The Canaanites worshiped detestable gods and engaged in detestable practices. This wasn’t just a difference of opinion, these were obvious wrongs.
Yet, they didn’t repent for the same reasons we don’t.
- We like what we’re doing.
- We think we have time.
- We think we have insulation or that judgment won’t happen to us.
But then they realize they’re wrong.
What if that’s true for us, too? If you know the enemy is back on their heels, what do you do? Attack! But at a time where it seems so appropriate to rush forward…
Joshua 5
2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.
Look at the word “again.” This had become a neglected practice in the wilderness, and understandably so. But it was the sign of God’s covenant, His promise. He’s reaffirming His promise – to be their God, but also to give them the land.
God is faithful, even when they’ve been unfaithful.
Obedience
But to receive the promise, they had to come into obedience. Obedience will always have a cost – it will always be “painful.” Perhaps not in this way, but it will always be something we’d prefer not to experience.
Joshua 5
4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. 6 The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.
9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.
The Israelites are ready to go. Their enemies have been caught unprepared. They’re back on their heels. God just did this incredible miracle at the river. Momentum is on their side. So, they decide to do a circumcision.
This was an outward sign of God’s covenant and the renewal of God’s covenant with His people in the Old Testament. Being delicate about it, they do this ritual that involves cutting, pain, and healing. It makes those who are physically strong temporarily weak.
Suddenly, the momentum is on the side of Canaan. The Israelites are in no condition to fight a battle anymore.
God’s timing is as important as God’s will, and God’s timing is almost always not our timing.
But there’s even more than timing. The people had been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, and the previous generation who had come out of Egypt died in the wilderness. In Numbers 13, 12 spies had been sent into the land to scope it out. Ten of them returned, thinking the cities were fortified, the people were powerful, and they couldn’t do it. Two returned, thinking that with God, they could do it, and one of these two people was Joshua. However, the people lost heart and faith in God when an overwhelming majority of the 12 returned with a negative review.
Very often, judgment is us getting the natural consequence of our actions.
It’s not punitive, it’s just consequential. When a kid touches a hot stove, it’s painful but not punitive. It’s cause and effect.
Joshua 5
10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. 11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain.
Return
Passover was the celebration of God’s faithfulness in bringing the people out of Egypt. There’s a return and then a remembrance. We can only build on remembrance of God’s faithfulness if we’re also willing to return to Him.
Joshua 5
12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.
The manna was God’s provision in the desert. It wasn’t extravagant, but it was enough. Even in rebellion, even in the desert, God remained faithful when His people were not faithful. God is saying, “Your desert season is over.”
But it’s under the condition of a reconsecration, turning back, trusting, and reclaiming of the promise. Sometimes, we are in the desert, praying to get out, and it seems like those prayers go unanswered. But what if God is trying to get our attention and saying, “Return to me?”
They are eating the fruit of the land but have to pick the fruit on their own and harvest the grain. It’s not falling out of the sky anymore. It’s similar to DoorDash, and we confuse God with DoorDash. We think that God is going to show up exactly where we want with what we want, and we don’t have to do anything.
Some of us look for manna to fall from the sky, but when the manna stops, we freak out about it. Some of us return to God, and instead of things getting easier, they feel like they’ve gotten harder. But you’re still holding onto the promise. It’s not that God’s provision has stopped, it’s moved on.
God is always faithful to you, but He knows that what you need now is different than what you needed back there.
God’s faithfulness isn’t tied to what He did – it’s tied to who He is. His faithfulness doesn’t change, His supply matches your season.
Joshua 5
13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” 14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”
The question for Joshua and us isn’t, “Is God on our side?” It’s, “Are we on God’s side?” God doesn’t take our side, we can only consecrate ourselves to God’s side.
Joshua 5
Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
This is a call back to Moses and the Burning Bush – a bookend. But it’s also a fresh consecration moment for Joshua – a return.
So, what is God asking of you? It’s going to be unique for every person. Asking the Spirit of God what He has for you and what needs to be consecrated to Him is the most significant thing any of us can do.
Want to play catch-up, or are you looking for a specific topic? Check out our collection of sermons and Season 2 of our podcast, LHC Unplugged!
For more LHC content, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram.
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