Joshua

Joshua 5: The commander of the LORD's army

Begin in prayer

Before we read about Israel's covenant sign, Passover and Joshua on holy ground, please come reverently to God. Ask Him to help our family listen as servants and look to Christ for mercy.

When Yahweh saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, “Moses! Moses!” He said, “Here I am.” He said, “Don’t come close. Take your sandals off of your feet, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.”

Exodus 3:4-5

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us to honor Your holiness and listen to Your Word. Show us Jesus and our need for His sacrifice. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The Amorite and Canaanite kings hear how the LORD dried up the Jordan, and their hearts melt. The LORD commands circumcision for Israel's uncircumcised males, and they remain in camp until healed. Israel keeps Passover and eats produce from the land, and the manna stops. Near Jericho Joshua meets a man with a drawn sword, who is commander of the LORD's army. Joshua worships and removes his shoes as commanded because the place is holy.

As you read Joshua 5, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD is holy, and He leads Israel as the commander of His army.

The Amorite and Canaanite kings heard how the LORD dried up the Jordan, and their hearts melted (verse 1). Then the LORD told Joshua to circumcise the sons of Israel again, with flint knives (verses 2 and 3). Circumcision was the sign of the covenant God made with Abraham (Genesis 17 verses 10 and 11). Those who came out of Egypt had died in the wilderness, because they did not listen to the LORD's voice (verse 6). Their sons, born on the way, had not been circumcised, so Joshua circumcised them (verses 5 to 7). The LORD said, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt off of you” (verse 9). Israel kept the Passover at Gilgal, ate food from the land, and the manna stopped (verses 10 to 12). Near Jericho Joshua saw a man with a drawn sword, who said he was commander of the LORD's army (verses 13 and 14). Joshua fell on his face and worshiped, and was told to take off his shoes, for the place was holy (verses 14 and 15).

How does Joshua 5 show us that the LORD is holy, and that He leads Israel as the commander of His army?

The LORD commands Israel's sons to be circumcised.

The LORD told Joshua to circumcise the sons of Israel again (verse 2). The men who came out of Egypt had died in the wilderness because they did not listen to Him (verse 6). Their sons were circumcised, and they stayed in camp until they were healed (verses 7 and 8). Then the LORD said He had rolled away the reproach of Egypt (verse 9).

Israel keeps Passover and eats the food of Canaan.

Israel camped at Gilgal and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day, at evening (verse 10). The next day they ate unleavened cakes and grain from the land, and the manna stopped (verses 11 and 12). Passover remembered the night the LORD passed over the houses of Israel in Egypt (Exodus 12 verse 27). Paul wrote that Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5 verse 7).

Joshua bows and obeys on holy ground.

Joshua saw a man with a drawn sword and asked whether he was for Israel or for their enemies (verse 13). The man said No, for he had come as commander of the LORD's army (verse 14). Joshua fell on his face and worshiped (verse 14). He was told to take off his shoes, for the place was holy, and Joshua did so (verse 15).

Memorise

The prince of Yahweh’s army said to Joshua, “Take your shoes off of your feet; for the place on which you stand is holy.” Joshua did so.

Joshua 5:15

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, am I trusting family customs instead of Jesus to save me?

Joshua fell on his face before the commander of the LORD's army, and he was told to take off his shoes, for the place was holy. At Gilgal Israel also kept the Passover. Paul wrote that Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5 verse 7).

No sinner can stand on holy ground as he is. Jesus Christ shed His blood at the cross for His people and carried their sin, so that nothing is left for them to answer for. God raised Him from the dead.

So come to Jesus with your sin, and do not hide it. Turn from it and trust Him. He gives forgiveness to those who trust Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD is holy and that Joshua worshiped before the commander of His army. Parents, please explain verses 2 to 9 in your own words, since they speak of circumcision. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for bringing Israel into Canaan and teaching Joshua to obey on holy ground, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God. I sing praises to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 71:22

Holy God, thank You for bringing Israel into the land and teaching Joshua to listen as a servant. We confess that we want our own way. Please lead each one of us to repent and believe in Jesus. Help us honor Your holiness in our words and actions this week. Amen.