Day 94 – Joshua & the Commander

• Yesterday we read about the people entering the land of Canaan, the Promised Land. Today we read about what they did in the first few days. I love the first verse of Joshua 5. If God is working for the Israelites, the kings of the Canaanites could have as many armies as they wished – they weren’t going to win! No wonder their hearts “melted” at the prospect of the Israelite nation.
• The first half of the chapter shows the people go through the process of circumcising the nation again (when I say again, I mean of course that everyone who wasn’t circumcised had it done. Having it done twice wouldn’t quite bear thinking about…). The people should, of course, have been done in the desert as they had been commanded to do to all new-born boys since Isaac, but it looks like the Israelites failed in this. Remember that baptism is what serves as a sign for us. Christ’s blood has already been shed for us so we don’t need to shed more blood ourselves, unlike the men in this story!
• Another massive moment appears in Joshua 5 – the end of the manna! How the people must have loved their new delicious food! And for us, eternal life will beat whatever we have in this life too. I can’t wait to try the food on Heaven’s banqueting table.
• The passage finishes with Joshua meeting the “Commander of the Lords Army”. Joshua himself is a commander of God’s people on earth, but this stranger is someone else; he initially doesn’t seem to know who he is, based on his question in verse 14.
• How do Joshua’s actions change when the stranger replies? What does this say about Joshua’s relationship with God. Look at the passage in Exodus that we read today – it very clearly predicts the events. Moses would have taught Joshua well, and thus Joshua may well have been prepared for this moment to arrive.
• Most people think that this is God Himself appearing to Joshua, although in the form of an angel. No wonder Joshua was quick to obey and follow. They were not going to defeat their enemies without the real “Commander” leading them.
• If Joshua was ready… are you? Are you ready to meet your Commander Jesus, should He return soon?
• We jump right to the end of the Bible with today’s third passage. How do you think they link in with the story passages of the Old Testament?

Here’s something to think about. Joshua asked the stranger whether he’s on his side or the enemy’s side. Notice the reply – he’s on neither side. It’s up to Joshua to be on His side instead – because if this stranger is God, then that’s the right side to be on!

Nowadays, we can ask ourselves the same question but the answer is a little different. Jesus is *for us*. Jesus went to the cross and took our punishment, which meant that God was *against Him*… and that means God is always *with us*, even when we fail. Romans 8 says: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus… If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Amen to that!