Joshua 5:9-15 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Joshua 5:9-15. Let’s go!
Joshua 5:9 (NIV)
9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.
On verse 9: After Joshua leads the Israelites to be circumcised in accordance with the Jewish law, why did God say to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you”? To commemorate the place where God rolled away this “reproach of Egypt” from the Israelites, they call this place “Gilgal”, which means “roll away”. But what is “the reproach of Egypt” anyway?
Keep in mind that circumcision was the sign of God’s covenant with the Jewish people (Genesis 17:11). Circumcision was a symbol that distinguished the Jewish people from their Egyptian masters and showed that they were God’s chosen people. When Joshua had this new generation of Israelites circumcised, it was them returning back to God’s law, going back to being set apart and distinct from an unbelieving world, which Egypt represented. So “the reproach of Egypt” may be a way of describing God’s disapproval of those who don’t trust and follow Him. By leading a new generation of Israelites to once again honour circumcision, God was rolling away that reproach from this new generation.
How can we apply this to our faith today? God specializes in taking away our reproach and disgrace through His love and grace. Back in Genesis 30:23, a woman called Rachel had been barren for many years, until one day God gave Rachel a son, whom she named Joseph. In giving that son to Rachel, God took away Rachel’s reproach and disgrace. Likewise, before we were unacceptable in God’s eyes because of our sin. However, through what Jesus did on the cross, Jesus has taken away our reproach, shame and disgrace. Because of Jesus, God’s wrath has turned away from us and we are now made completely acceptable in God’s sight.
Joshua 5:10-12 (NIV)
10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover.
11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain.
12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan.
On verses 10-12: As soon as the Israelites ate some of the produce of the land (v11), the manna (which is bread that God had been miraculously providing to the Israelites every day during their wanderings) stopped (v12). Once again we see that God’s timing is perfect. As soon as one provision began, another provision ended. God’s provision comes neither early nor late, but right on time.
Joshua 5:13-15 (NIV)
13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
15 The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
On verses 13-15: Joshua meets a man with a drawn sword and asks, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” From the man’s reply Joshua learns that this man is actually the commander of the Lord’s army, an angel (or possibly even more than an angel as we’ll discuss below). Joshua’s tone and posture change completely. He falls facedown in reverence before this man he has met.
What can we learn from this?
1. There is good reason to believe that the man Joshua meets here is none other than Jesus Christ himself. This is because this man is described as “commander of the army of the Lord” (v14), which is one of Jesus’ roles (see, for example, Revelation 19:14-16). Another reason to believe that this man is Jesus is because when Joshua bows down to worship this man, this man does not stop Joshua’s worship, as angels often would (see, for example, Revelation 19:10 and Revelation 22:9). Instead this man seems to receive the reverence and worship as if he is worthy of it. These suggest to me that the man Joshua meets here could very well be Jesus himself.
2. Notice how Joshua’s tone and posture changes when he realizes that the person before him is no ordinary man but someone from heaven, or as I would suggest the Son of God. At first when Joshua first meets the man, he asks, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” as if to ask “whose side are you serving?” But when Joshua learns that this man is from heaven, his focus changes from “Are you here to serve me?” to “How can I serve you”? Likewise, we should not treat Jesus like any ordinary man, or as someone who is only here to serve us. Rather, approach Jesus with an attitude of reverence, worship, humility, submission, and obedience. Here on earth, we are Jesus’ servants. Heaven does not exist to serve our purposes on earth. We exist to serve heaven’s purposes.
3. The Lord tells Joshua to take off his sandals because the place where he is standing is holy ground. This recalls a similar scene when the Lord first called Moses to lead the Israelites (Exodus 3:5).
Lord Jesus, thank You for taking away my shame and reproach when You died on the cross for me. Thank You that Your provision always comes at the perfect time, neither early nor late. I proclaim that I live to serve Your purposes. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
