Year 7, Day 190: Joshua 5

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I wondered as I read this passage today.  I wondered why it is that we are five whole chapters into the book of Joshua and we still haven’t gotten to the battle of Jericho, which signifies the start of the military campaign to take the Promised Land.  Considering that we had the story of the report of the spies several chapters back, it seems strange to be waiting for so long!  Yes, I realize the story is literally right around the corner.

The reason that I start this blog post with my thought is because as I pondered that thought I realized the error of my focus.  While Jericho may be the start of the military campaign, it is not the start of the work of God.  Remember what I wrote a few days ago?  The heart of the native people knew that the God of the Hebrew people had brought them to Canaan to rule it.  God’s already at work.  It is easy to focus on the visible work of men and the start of their military campaign.  But the truth is that the fight for the land began a while ago with God’s hand.  That’s a really important lesson to remember.  God’s work is far more important than our visible human deeds any day.

Look at this chapter for even more proof of this.  What is it that we hear first?  The hearts of the people melt some more.  When the Hebrew people officially cross the Jordan, their fears are confirmed.  Yes, God has brought this plague of Hebrew people upon them to take over the land.

Second, we learn about the consecration of the Hebrew people.  Naturally, this is an important step in these people doing the work of God.  When we are only looking at it from the perspective of humanity, we are left marveling at the idiocy of taking your grown army and causing them to undergo circumcision.  If ever there was a good time for the Canaanites to attack a vulnerable Hebrew nation, that was it!  But this is proof that this is God’s story, not the story of mankind.  The Hebrew people do circumcise themselves.  They are not attacked.  They are made holy before the Lord and are under His protection as they have always been.

Finally, we hear the story of Joshua meeting up with the commander of the Lord’s army.  This is another necessary step in God’s campaign, well before the campaign of mankind begins at Jericho.  God’s commander comes and assures Joshua that God is with him.  I love how this chapter ends.  As we prepare for the battle of Jericho in earnest, we are told the mighty words: you are standing upon holy ground.  Indeed.  This is God’s story of His campaign, not a story of mighty men and their mighty deeds.

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