Read: Joshua 5
Devotion: After forty years of wandering, the people of Israel had finally entered the promised land and they were ready to start conquering the peoples that currently dwelt there. This was the land that God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Josh. 4:19).
Before they crossed the Jordan into the land, Joshua had sent two spies to scout out fortified city of Jericho, which Israel needed to overcome if they were to inhabit the land. Now, several days later, Israel was on the cusp of battle as they encamped at Gilgal, a town on the east border of Jericho (4:19).
Thankfully for Israel, the miraculous nature of their entrance into the land had melted the hearts of the other hostile nations, so they didn’t need to fear any sneak attacks or aid coming to Jericho (5:1). Not only this, but the people had already heard from Rahab through the two spies that the king and the people of Jericho feared the Israelites and their God (Josh. 2:8-11). It would seem that Jericho was primed for the taking.
So, when we read that the Lord spoke to Joshua (Josh 5:2), we would assume that God would give them the green light to begin their assault. But that’s not what he does. Instead, the Lord gives them a command that would temporarily disable their fighting force and put them in an extremely vulnerable position. God commands Joshua to have all the sons of Israel circumcised (v. 2).
If you had been reading the Biblical narrative thus far, you’d know just how vulnerable the people of Israel would be if they did this. In Genesis 34 Simeon and Levi, just two men, were able to slaughter and plunder an entire city because they tricked the males of that city into circumcising themselves the previous day. If Israel circumcised themselves in Gilgal, they would be sitting ducks for Jericho or any of their other Canaanite or Amorite enemies.
Despite this, upon receiving this command from God, Joshua immediately commences making flint knives and circumcises all of the sons of Israel. Why did God have Israel do this? Joshua gives us the answer in the rest of the section: Due to the disobedience of their parents, this generation had not been circumcised (vv. 4-7). Though they were the covenant people, they did not bear the sign of the covenant that God gave to Abraham (Gen. 17:11).
Before Israel could possess any of the blessings of the covenant—the land, specifically—they had to be true members of the covenant. They had to be in right relationship to God and faithfully trusting in his Word. Did they share the same faith that Abraham did? This act of circumcision would be a fruit of that.
That all makes sense. But why now? Joshua had been commanding this new generation of Israelites for at least several weeks, if not months, by this point, so why did God wait until now to make such a serious demand on his people? Why didn’t God have them circumcised while they were safe beyond the Jordan? Why wait until they are literally in the midst of their enemies?
It’s because before all of the conquering that they were going to have to do the people of Israel needed to realize that worship comes before warfare. How was Israel going to conquer peoples who were stronger, faster, bigger, more technologically advanced, and numerous than they? How were they going to destroy fortified cities like Jericho without any form of siege equipment? They were going to accomplish these things only by faith in the Lord who was going to fight for them (Josh. 1:5-6).
Joshua already knew this. Forty years prior, he and Caleb were the only two spies out of twelve who who believed Israel could conquer the people of the land, even though they were more powerful than the people of Israel. These men knew that Yahweh would fight for them and give them the land (Num 14:6-9). Now, this new generation needed that truth drilled into their heads and hearts.
So, not only did they circumcise themselves, they also celebrated Passover according to the Law (5:10-12). In these acts, they are fully entrusting themselves to the Lord through their obedience to him. And it is after this that the commander of the Lord’s army, who seems to be the Lord Himself (6:2), appears to Joshua and says, “Ok, now the people are ready for war.”
How many battles do we enter into without properly preparing? How many struggles do we attempt to face by our own strength and steam? The people of Israel in Gilgal show us a better way. They show us the only way. “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Ps. 121:1-2).
Ponder and Pray: How can you make sure that you are trusting in the Lord rather than in our own strength? What are some telltale signs that we are trusting in ourselves? Finish your time by praying that God would cause us to consistently rely on him and not ourselves.
