June 16, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Joshua? Here’s today’s reading:
Joshua 5 (NIV)
1 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.........Continue Reading
Joshua 5
Joshua 5
Joshua 5
Circumcision was such an important ceremony between God and his chosen people. Now it is circumcision of the heart. !! Passover in the promised land must have been a great ceremony for the Jewish nation. Remembering how God had seen them through to enter through all the obstacles
I like the exchange between Joshua and the angel. He is neither for Joshua or his enemies; he is for God.
God had Joshua stop to be sure all the men were circumcised and reminds us how important this act was to him. Reminders again!
I suppose it is not surprising that that disobedient generation wandering in the desert did not circumcise their children, but therefore it left a matter to be resolved. It is a lesson that God often brings us up to speed before He will use us in His plan and that is why this is necessary here in this chapter. Hopefully this would be a painful reminder to make sure they maintain these essential function of God’s covenant with His people, and from now on , each male child would be circumcised on the 8th day.
And it is interesting that this angel is dispatched and doesn’t declare allegiance possibly because the Israelites need to follow God’s instructions in order to have God on their side. But regardless, Joshua honors him and treats the ground he is standing on as holy because the angel told him it was. A wise thing to do if ever we find ourselves in the same position….
I am traveling so I have been reading but not commenting!
All the Israelites are circumcised in obedience to God’s covenant.
Joshua encounters the commander of the Lord’s army. It is interesting that he didn’t answer “yes” or “no” to Joshua’s question.
13Now 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.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
15The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.