Joshua 4:11-5:12

Joshua 4:11-5:12

Now that the Israelites were on the other side of the Jordan River, God began to put into motion His plans for their conquest. First, He made sure that the people understood the position Joshua held in Israel. He was Moses’ successor, and the people of Israel were to follow him just as they had followed Moses, understanding that he acted on the authority of God. Then, God had Joshua call the priests out of the river basin and up onto the dry land. Immediately, once the priests were all on dry land, the river went back to its original state as if nothing had ever happened. Yet to mark that something had indeed happened at this spot, Joshua collected the twelve stones and constructed an altar to God between the Jordan River and Jericho. This would be a sign to them and to future generations of what God had done for Israel on that day.

Joshua 5 begins by commenting on the reaction of some of the surrounding nations. Reports went out that the Israelites were now near their lands, and the report was that they had crossed through a divided Jordan River. These nations had probably heard the stories of what happened when Israel left Egypt, and many of them were worried about what that meant. Scripture says that “their hearts melted.” This is a way of saying that reality struck them in the face. They understood what it meant that Israel was now in their lands, and they knew that even though Israel was small in number (as in the number of warriors) they were still very powerful. Although they probably did not want to admit it to their people, I bet some of them knew right then that they were as good as defeated.

Joshua’s next task was to circumcise Israel. Circumcision was the sign of the covenant when God originally made the covenant with Abraham. Every male from that point forward had been circumcised. However, the last group to be circumcised had been the generation that came up out of Egypt. The newer generation that was born along the way had not been circumcised by their fathers. So as Israel was beginning life in a new land (really a fresh start for them all), Joshua circumcised all the men of Israel, showing that they were committed to keeping their end of the covenant. This was a sign that they were ready to follow God wherever He led them.

You may have forgotten that the Israelites were still eating manna each day (I had actually forgotten this detail). Although manna has not been mentioned for quite some time in their story, God had not ceased from providing for His children. From the time they began their journey to the time that the entered the Promised Land, God provided manna for them. Here near the end of Joshua 5, it gives the day in which the manna stopped. Israel celebrated their first Passover in the Promised Land just days after they had entered. On that day, they were able to eat of the food of the land. For this reason, the manna was held back. Yet this should not lead us to think that God stopped providing for Israel. Although He was no longer giving them manna, He still had His ways to provide for them and meet their needs. Now that they were in the Promised Land, their provisions came from the food of the land. Remember that God had given them this land, and He had told them on many occasions about all the great things that they would find their (“a land flowing with milk and honey”). Therefore, just because Israel is not being fed manna everyday should not be viewed as if God is no longer providing for them. He was actually providing for them in a much greater way.

Matt