Joshua 5 & 6: And Joshua Did So
Verse of the Day: (5:15) And the captain of the LORD’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
1. Jordan (5:1-8)
And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel. (5:1)
When God is with us, no one, not even the Devil, can be against us. The great enemies of Israel were fearful of them when they heard that God had miraculously dried up the Jordan River for them to cross dry to their territory to fight against them. (Romans 8:31)
2. Joshua (5:9-15)
And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day. (15:9)
Gilgal means “rolling away”, and God rolled away the shame of Egypt from Israel as they repented their sins of rebellion. God then commanded Joshua to circumcise the young generation who were 19 years and below who survived the 40 years’ wilderness journey, while those 20 years and above, except for Joshua and Caleb, died because of their disobedience. Today, we no longer practise circumcision, but God shall circumcise our hearts to make us holy as we believe in and receive Jesus, His Son, as our personal Saviour. Joshua obeyed God without questioning, and God sent His Captain, Jesus, to encourage him just before he led Israel to their victory over Jericho. (Numbers 14:29-30)
3. Jericho (6:1-27)
And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. (6:2)
God assured Joshua before he even led Israel to overcome Jericho that He had already given Jericho to them. This is God’s promise to every of His children that He shall grant us victory over all our trials, troubles and temptations, as we trust and obey Him. God commanded Joshua and Israel to go round the city of Jericho once for 6 consecutive days, and 7 times on the 7th day, and as the priests would blow the trumpets, and Israel shall shout with a great shout, and the walls shall fall. The wall did fall, and Israel defeated Jericho. Though in the book of Hebrews, God mentions “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days” yet there was no mention of Joshua’s name when God commends a number of them for their faith. Indeed, it is never about man’s great achievements, but it is all about God, and His great work. (Hebrews 11:30)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to obey Your commandments without questioning.
