Joshua meets the Commander of the LORD’s army and see’s Jericho’s wall fall by His power.
Joshua 5: The New Generation Circumcised
1 As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.
2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time."
3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.
4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt.
5 Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised.
6 For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD; the LORD swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
7 So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.
8 When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.
9 And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.
First Passover in Canaan
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.
The Commander of the LORD's Army
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.
Joshua 6: The Fall of Jericho
1 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in.
2 And the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valour.
3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days.
4 Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
5 And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him."
6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD."
7 And he said to the people, "Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the LORD."
8 And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD following them.
9 The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually.
10 But Joshua commanded the people, "You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout."
11 So he caused the ark of the LORD to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp.
12 Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.
13 And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets blew continually.
14 And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.
15 On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times.
16 And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout, for the LORD has given you the city.
17 And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
18 But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it.
19 But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD."
20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.
21 Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.
22 But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, "Go into the prostitute's house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her."
23 So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel.
24 And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
25 But Rahab the prostitute and her father's household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
26 Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, "Cursed before the LORD be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. "At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates."
27 So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land.
Things to think about…
Fear fell upon the surrounding nations because they had heard about the mighty works of the Lord, Josh 5:1. The same was true in the early church as recorded in Acts 5:11 when the Lord displayed his power in judging Ananias and Sapphira. May the church once again be given the place of respect and honour. The Lord dwells among His people and the power of His Holy Spirit should be clearly seen.
In Josh 5:2-9 we read that the males were circumcised at Gilgal. Before there is any work done in the Lord’s name there must be a setting apart of the Lord’s people. Verse 9 says “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you”. We are called to be circumcised in heart as we have had the reproach of our sin taken from us in Christ. As such we are fully prepared to go into battle.
The Passover started in Canaan and the manna stopped in the wilderness, Josh 5:10-12. Don’t rely on old grace or expect the Lord to continue to provide for you in ways He has done in the past. His mercies are new every morning, Lam 3:23. Jesus is our Passover, let’s trust in Him to provide for our every need, Mt 6:26.
In Josh 5:13-15 Joshua meets the ‘Commander of the LORD’s army’. We know Him as Jesus. Once Joshua found out who He was he asked what he should do. The answer, ‘Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy”, vs 15. Often we want to ‘do’ things for God. No. Let’s simply worship Him by trusting Him and His work. This is our greatest challenge, to be still and know He is God.
Joshua 6 and the fall of Jericho is one of the most famous chapters in the bible. Even the world knows about this story. What a fearful thing for those inhabitants of ancient Jericho. They were locked inside and each day for six days had the ark of the covenant, 7 trumpets, the priests and the army of Israel march around the city. The time had finally come when on the seventh day the same group marched around the city seven times and then gave a great shout. The inhabitants see the city wall fall. All were to be killed, young and old, male and female, animals and humans. The only part of the wall that would have stood would have been where Rahab’s house was built. Her family alone was spared. God’s judgement is a fearful reality. Only those who are marked out by grace in Christ will survive. Ponder this truth. May there be many spiritual Rahab’s in our city that will called by His name.
The city would indeed be rebuilt and yet the curse Joshua pronounced remained on the person that did so, Josh 6:26. In the days of the wicked king Ahab where there was spiritual decline 1Kings 16:34 “In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.” Though we think that in the process of time God may forget or change we are told that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, Heb 13:8 and to “be sure your sin will find you out”, Num 32:23. As such let’s put 1John 1:9 into practice.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
For Cell Groups.
Reading was from Heb 10:1-17 - Title “What can you offer?”
1. The writer of Hebrews, likely Paul, says that the law was a shadow of the “good things to come”, vs 1. What does this phrase mean? Was there something wrong with the law?
2. Shadows are fine. They can provide many things including shade. But they point to an object that casts the shadow, something more substantial. Christ is the Cornerstone of the building. We are the living stones. Jay spoke about standing outside on the porch or verandah, but not be part of the building inside. What are ways some people can do this as part of being religious?
3. Jay asked what you are striving for in this life. What is important or valuable to you. Are you getting value for your money and time? If Christ has done the most important thing, He has made us perfect, but we are being perfected vs 14. What does this verse mean?
4. As Christians we are now slaves of righteousness and not slaves to self. We have been bought with the blood of Christ. As such we are to offer ourselves up as “living sacrifices, which is our spiritual (reasonable) worship (service) to God,” Rom 12:1. How is this achieved by you?
Prayer Points
1. Heavily rain affected areas – especially NSW.
2. Recharge leader for our Friday night ministry
3. Wedding and baptisms on the 18th April.
4. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
5. New families as they settle into church.
6. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
7. Getting drawings into council.
8. Sunday’s message – Pastor Jay.
Praise Points.
1. More visitors to church on Sunday.
2. We praise God for the rain but pray for those affected by potential flooding in Sydney and surrounding areas.
3. Praise the Lord for the Kids@church ministry. Thankyou Maddison.
4. Praise and worship – pray for continued growth and blessing.
5. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
Announcements
1. Last Recharge event for this term on Friday night. Get youth to invite their friends, 6:30pm Friday to 8:30pm.
2. Wedding and baptisms coming up 18th April at Church and Colleges Crossing
3. Good Friday service 2nd April 9:00am and Easter Sunday service 4th April 9:30am.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
