Joshua 6:1 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in.
We like to get into the thick of the action, but let’s look back at what was happening prior to this point…
Joshua sent the two spies into the promised land; they obtained a good report from Rahab and were hidden by her (Joshua 2).
Then the Lord then cut of the waters of the Jordan so all the people could walk across on dry land (Joshua 3).
Now we come to Joshua 4. The people are ready…finally ready to take Jericho, ready to begin to take the land the Lord had promised them…so here comes the Lord’s command to Joshua. The men are poised for battle…Here it comes, right, the command to go…
Joshua 4:1 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them…
“Ok. All right!” the people are thinking. “Good! Yes, we’re across Jordan now. Let’s get going. Jericho lies ahead! The promised land. It’s ours for the taking. Right? The LORD is surely giving us the go-ahead now to fight and battle. Joshua’s just getting the specifics now. Let’s go and hear what He’s told Joshua…”
So, what was it the LORD spoke to Joshua anyhow?
Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight…’
What? What? What?
“But, Joshua, but Lord, we’re ready to go here … We’re wasting time here moving these stones. We’re not here to move stones. We’re here to go into battle. We’re ready to take the land. You promised us the land, didn’t You? Isn’t it time for us to get to it?”
But, My people, You’re not ready! First of all, I want you to remember something…I want You to remember Me! This journey is ultimately not about you, or about the land, but it’s about Me and My glory and My renown. Who called you to be a people? Who makes you ready? Who tells you when it’s time to take the land? Who’s given you this land? Who’s been faithful to you all those years in the wilderness? Who delivered you from Egypt? Who caused you to walk across the Jordan on dry land? What did you do to get yourselves here? Did you cause the waters to stand up in a heap? Did you? Did you?!”
And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.”
Just as the LORD did right at the beginning of Joshua, He reminds the people once more to keep Him central.
A few questions to ask now … and as you continue reading …
How often do we jump ahead into working for God and forget Him?
How often do we jump ahead into working for God and forget Whose mighty power redeemed us and made us His children?
How often do we jump ahead into working for God and forget to give Him thanks and praise to Him?
How often do we jump ahead into working for God and forget to pray to the mighty LORD?
How often do we jump ahead into working for God and forget His promises to us?
How often do we jump ahead into working for God and forget His presence goes with us?
How often do we jump ahead into working for God and forget in Whose mighty power we are working?
How often do we jump ahead into working for God and not go into our rooms and shut the door so we might rely on Him and His power?
Can we really say we are really working for God if we have not remembered Him?
Can we really expect the shut up cities of Jericho if we have not kept Him central?
(Isn’t it true that much of the battle is done in prayer itself?)
All right, we’re now to Joshua 5. The memorial stones are set up at the end of Joshua 4.
All Israel is across the Jordan, camped on the east side of Jericho. Certainly it’s time to take the land, right? Time to invade Jericho, right? After all, we see how the kings of the land were affected…
Joshua 5:1 …their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.
Just as God had promised. It was time to go, right?
Now what does the Lord command Joshua to do at this point?
“Make flint knives…”
“Ok. Right. We can use more weapons. Fine. Sounds good to us. We certainly know the LORD knows what’s He’s doing…”
2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.”
“What? What? What?” *understandable grimacing, wincing, assorted murmuring and grunting sounds…expletives…so on and so forth…*
Certainly this makes no sense at all to us.
First off, the Canaanite kings are back on their heels because of the word they heard about the LORD’s workings on behalf of Israel. Israel had a great psychological advantage here, why not take advantage of it?
Second of all, I’m not a man, but I’d have to say that being freshly circumcised doesn’t exactly leave you in prime position for battle, does it? And not only that, but it would leave not only you but also your wives and children vulnerable to attack.
The circumcision could wait, couldn’t it? Until after the taking of Jericho at any rate, or, even better, after all the land is taken. Then Israel would be in a strategically safer position.
Of course, the Lord’s ways are higher than ours. His wisdom seems foolishness. Our weakness is opportunity for His strength. And all these things add up to make for His maximum glory as the story unfolds.
A little more about circumcision. Let’s remember that the Old Testament circumcision is a picture of the New Testament circumcision of the heart, the circumcision made without hands (Col. 2) by the Holy Spirit. It’s the reminder that in and of ourselves we are nothing. A reminder that we come to Christ with nothing and we can do nothing apart from Christ…ever…Nothing!
The sexual organ is central here. God’s saying something like this to Israel (and to us):
Remember back to Abraham. Remember when he and Sarah got anxious and didn’t rest in My promises. They jumped ahead of My timetable and enlisted the help of Hagar. The result? Ishmael: the child of flesh. But My work is never done in your fleshly efforts. Never. My work must always be done in My way. Always! It is always by My Spirit’s power and by your resting in My promises and obeying and trusting Me by faith. Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit! Period!
So if you get any notion whatsoever, even a little inkling, that you’ll be able to take this land by yourself and in your own strength, think again. After all – Who brought you out of Egypt? Who allowed you to walk across Jordan just now on dry ground? Who? Who? Who?
So, Joshua circumcises the Israelite men as the LORD commanded. They’re all rendered helpless just as they’re about to battle for Jericho. Physically helpless. Psychologically helpless. This is a perfect picture of our spiritual inability, isn’t it?
God had the twelve memorial stones set up and the circumcision done all so Israel might keep the LORD central, to remember He is the LORD God alone and deliverance comes through Him and Him alone.
Today as Christians we have the circumcision not made with hands, through the Holy Spirit. We have only come into the family of God and we only remain in the family of God and we can only walk in the works God’s ordained for us through the Holy Spirit of God, all to the glory of God alone. But how often do we grieve and quench the Spirit by forgetting God’s mighty power and His past workings in our lives and the life of His people throughout history? We are so tempted to walk in the flesh. How often do we foolishly expect to accomplish in our power what is only possible in the power of God?
O, that we would remember God’s mighty power to save and our utter helplessness. That we might make Him preeminent in all we do. We get into trouble whenever we think we are sufficient in and of ourselves, don’t we? Christ is to be our life. Our life. Not just an appendage. He is to be our all in all. We have no life apart from Him. We can bear no fruit apart from Him. We can do nothing without Him.
The Lord also reminds Israel here that He was the one who rolled away the reproach of Gilgal. Gilgal was that place where Israel was first ready to enter the promised land years before, and now God brought them back once more to the very place where they failed to trust God’s promises and shrunk back in disobedience and ended up wandering in the wilderness for forty years. But here we see God’s graciousness. He’s rolled away their reproach. They could do nothing, yet He graciously brought them back and brought them into the Promised Land in spite of their distrust and disobedience. Praise God that His Grace to us in Jesus Christ is greater than our sin! All day long He reaches His hands out to us!
Finally, one more tangible reminder of God’s perfect provision for Israel:
10 While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho. 11 And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
On that very day…Hmm…Timely coincidence? No! Loving Providence!
All right, so there they are, the nation of Israel, the men all having been circumcised, given time for healing. In the eyes of the uncircumcised world, they’re sitting ducks, are they not? Yet we see how the Lord miraculously protected and provided for them there. Let’s never doubt Him when He puts us into such vulnerable positions, when we are at the end of our own earthly strength and supplies. We can trust Him to provide for us in His perfect way and time.
Finally, just in case Joshua and Israel still didn’t get it, that is, if they still didn’t understand their total dependence on the LORD, there’s something else – that interesting encounter Joshua has at the end of chapter 5 with the LORD Himself:
13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 And the commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Yes, I guess Joshua did just that, wouldn’t you?! (How do you manage to take off sandals when you’re already lying flat in the dust anyhow?)
Not only do the people as a whole need reminders of their insufficiency, but God’s leaders do as well, and probably more so and more often. As soon as we are given any responsibility, we often let that go to our heads and forget that it is LORD alone who has placed us there.
So, Karen, who’s in charge here, you or Me? Don’t forget, I’m the commander of the army here…You are My servant. Don’t let this go to your head.
*gulp* *prostrating* *taking off sandals* “Yes, Lord. Remind me, Holy Father, I will forget…You know how often I allow the pride of life to carry me away from the meek and humble spirit of Your blessed Son Jesus. Keep me in Your easy yoke. Help me to learn of You, Lord Jesus.”
Who are we that God chose us to save us from hell in the first place? Who are we that He commissions each of us to be His ambassadors here in His Kingdom work? Who are we? Brands plucked out of the fire! Unworthy and unprofitable servants? O, would that we might have David’s humble attitude (II Samuel 7):
“Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?…”
Like the disciples, we too quickly become full of ourselves, rather than being filled with the Spirit, we become puffed up and begin to lord it over others and jockey for position and forget that to be great in the Kingdom we are to be servants of all, to wash feet, to lay down our lives for our friends…
Now we’ve finally gotten to Joshua 6.
Joshua 6:1 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in.And the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor…”
The people are probably thinking once again,
“Ok! All right! The Lord has given Jericho into our hand…yes, and hear what He’s saying there: He’s including the king and the mighty men of valor. Victory is ours! Resistance is futile! Let’s roll! Let’s get ready for battle…”
So, just to make it clear that God really means business about our being wholly dependent on His plan and His ways, we see His plan for action to take Jericho in chapter 6 involved a bit more waiting…
God seems to like to have His people wait doesn’t He? Most of us don’t do waiting very well, do we? No wonder patience and self-control are included as part of the fruit of the Spirit! God orchestrates circumstances so we might rely on Him and no longer on ourselves: it’s all about His timing, His ways, His power, His provision. He calls the shots, we do not! Man proposes, God disposes!
So Israel has encountered what they might view as another delay: they’re told to march around the city.
“Ok. We can do that. One time around and then we’re in! Yesssss! –– What? You say not just once. How many times? How long? Six days. What sense does that really make? We’re ready to go here?”
You can imagine that the men might be pretty antsy at this point. They’ve been sitting around healing after the circumcisions. And now…testosterone rising much? Notice these men are “all the men of war.” Men of war. War. They’re geared to fight and take the city. But what does God have them do? March. And march. And march…
What kind of work is this marching around the city for men of war? Well, it’s the same work we ought to be doing as we prepare for battle. We are in a spiritual battle, are we not? But how often do we try to fight it with the weapons of this world? How often do we try to fight apart from marching, for example, how do we attempt to fight apart from the all-important and vital preparatory prayer work. How often do we rush to make a frontal attack when we see the city shut up and those tall walls of Jericho when instead we ought to be rushing off and and shutting the door to our closet and dropping to our knees where we might plead with God for souls and march around the hearts that are shut up around all around us to the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
We are all so tempted to do, do, do. We are all so wanting to work, work, work, aren’t we? To speak, to write, to act. We ache to do just about anything but pray. May our Savior who ever lives to intercede for us grant us abundant grace to march around those shut up cities in the ministry of prayer, to tarry with Him regularly at the throne of grace.
Once again I’ll bring you the questions I included earlier…
How often do we jump ahead into working for God and forget Him?
How often do we jump ahead into working for God and forget Whose mighty power redeemed us and made us His children?
How often do we jump ahead into working for God and forget to give Him thanks and praise to Him?
How often do we jump ahead into working for God and forget to pray to the mighty LORD?
How often do we jump ahead into working for God and forget His promises to us?
How often do we jump ahead into working for God and forget His presence goes with us?
How often do we jump ahead into working for God and forget in Whose mighty power we are working?
How often do we jump ahead into working for God and not go into our rooms and shut the door so we might rely on Him and His power?
Can we really say we are really working for God if we have not remembered Him?
Can we really expect the shut up cities of Jericho if we have not kept Him central?
(Isn’t it true that much of the battle is done in prayer itself?)
As we reflect on the journey to Jericho, may we remember that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours, that His plans are all for His maximum glory and His intent is to keep us ever mindful that all we have and all we can do is through His power and might alone, not through us. May He give us patience to wait on Him, to rely on Him, to pray to Him, to follow His plans, for when we are weak, He is strong, and His foolishness is wiser than the wisdom of men! Amen and Amen.
Psalm 115:1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
In what current situation are you struggling to trust and rely on Lord?
Related:
- “After the death of Moses” ~ will you obey God’s command to arise, go?
- prayer and closed doors
- “ALL public work must be subservient to my prayer work.” (Evan Roberts)
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Saturday, Feb. 25, 1738. … Oh, when will that come, when all differences about externals shall be taken away, and we all with one heart, and one mouth glorify our Lord Jesus Christ!
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