Joshua – Page 6 – Be Still…

Joshua 6:1-27 – Jericho Falls

What an event! This story sticks with me because as a child I learned a song in Sunday School about it. “Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho. Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, and the walls came tumbling down.” Is that familiar to you, too? I remember we’d all dance around in a circle, and then fall down like the walls. I think that’s why I love teaching the Bible using songs. Here’s a cute version to watch.

This would be the first battle in the new land the Israelites were poised to conquer. I’m sure there were plenty of people who wondered if Joshua had lost his mind having them march around the city for six days in a row. But on the seventh day, that’s when the miracle would happen.

Joshua 5:13-15 – Holy Ground

Read Joshua 5:13-15

person bowing on their knees with head down, hands in prayer position

Did you peek at Chapter 6 because you wanted to see how this story ended? I did. I was sure something juicy was going to happen next. Why in the world did these short verses show up to begin the transition of our story? I may have been even more surprised by the angel’s response when asked if he was friend or foe? “Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.”

I suppose that we’re not necessarily supposed to get chummy with our angel of protection. Joshua clearly understood that this situation necessitated a response of great respect. “At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence.” I can picture this so vividly in my mind, can’t you?

Joshua 5:1-12 – Re-Establishing the Covenant

Read Joshua 5:1-12

A heart puzzle with a missing piece moving into place

Our reading starts with a bit of a glimpse of what is happening in the area to those hearing about God’s mighty act involving the Jordan River crossing. That fear will have a bit of time to percolate and resonate in their hearts. We might think of the old saying, “waiting for the other shoe to drop.” The anticipation of attack must have been quite something. Would they let fear move them forward or keep them stuck. We can find ourselves dealing with fear in much the same way.

But the main focus of our reading today focuses on re-establishing the covenant between God and his people. We learn that nobody has been circumcised since leaving Egypt. We know from Genesis 17:12, “From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased.” For some reason, this was God’s desire for his people.

Joshua 4:10-24 – God is Powerful

Read Joshua 4:10-24

Have you ever meditated on exactly how powerful God is? As our story of crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land comes to a conclusion, we shouldn’t rush past what we just read. We saw God at work in drying up the river so his people could walk across. “He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”

Forever is a long time. We are included in the ones who are to know about this. It says “all nations.” How powerful is God? In this instance, he held back the water from flowing. A river during flood season. We’ve probably all seen dams along a river holding back the water. What a mighty spectacle of a contraption needed to keep water cooped up!

Joshua 4:1-9 – Twelve Stones

Read Joshua 4:1-9

What did you think of the reading today? Did you find it a little curious that all these men were moving rocks around? What could be the significance? Sometimes we encounter passages like this that really make us wonder. Do you think there is some hidden meaning here? Whether there is or not, ask God to let this passage speak to you.

To me, the obedience of all involved in this story shines brightly. We have Joshua who listened to God about choosing 12 men. That was in yesterday’s reading. Today God reveals to Joshua what they are to do. Joshua was obedient. The men he chose were obedient. The people all crossed the Jordan were obedient. The priests were steadfast in holding up the Ark and making sure it, and all the people, made the trek safely across.