And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.
For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.
And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.
And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.
And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.
And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
FOR OR AGAINST?
‘Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?’
Joshua 5:13
I. The faithful fighter.
( a) Called, or ordained ( Numbers 27:18), as we are by Baptism, or Confirmation.
( b) Instructed and trained under his captain, undaunted, found faithful in lesser things, willing to obey ( Joshua 1:7-8). The Christian to be under orders, disciplined.
( c) Whole-hearted. No neutrality, strong against disloyalty.
II. “For or against?”
( a) The Church asks it. Whole-hearted Christians needed for Church’s work.
( b) The Spirit asks it. Joshua-like loyalty to holiness needed.
( c) The Saviour asks it. “I did all this for thee, what art thou giving to Me?”
III. On whose side are we fighting?
—Rev. F. S. Legg.
Illustrations
(1) ‘Ponder Jesus’ solemn word, “He that is not with Me, is against Me.” There is no neutrality in this warfare. Either we are for Him or we are for His adversary. “Under which King? speak or die!” As sensible men, not indifferent to your highest and lasting well-being, ask yourselves, “Can I, with my ten thousand, meet Him with His twenty thousand?” Put yourselves under His orders, and He will be on your side. “He will teach your hands to war, and your fingers to fight; will cover your heads in the day of battle,” and bring you at last, palm-bearing and laurel-crowned, to that blissful state where there will still be service.’
(2) ‘Joshua saw the man with a sword in his hand. O that Christ might come in our time with the sword of the Divine Spirit in His hand; come to effect deeds of love but yet deeds of power; come with His two-edged sword to smite our sins, to cut to the heart His adversaries, to slay their unbelief, to lay their iniquities dead before Him. The sword is drawn, not scabbarded, as, alas! it has been so long in many churches, but made bare for present active use. It is in His hand, not in the minister’s hand, not even in an angel’s hand, but the sword drawn is in His hand. Oh, what power there is in the Gospel when Jesus holds the hilt, and what gashes it makes into hearts that were hard as adamant, when Jesus cuts right and left at the hearts and consciences of men! Brethren, seek this presence, and seeking it, believe it; and when you hear the Gospel preached, or when you meet together for prayer, think you see in the centre of the assembly the Champion of Israel, with uplifted sword, prepared to do great exploits as in days of old.’
And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
