Title [Joshua 5:13-15] For Victory
The Israelites crossed the Jordan River safely by the grace of God. They encamped in Gilgal, and prepared everything for victory in the battle for conquest of Canaan. The prepared content is recorded in the main text. I hope that by studying these words, we will all receive grace and renew our arms for spiritual victory.
1. Circumcision was performed (2-9).
2. They kept the Passover (10).
Passover is a ritual observed on the night of January 14th. It is a ceremony to catch a young ram prepared on January 10, apply it to the lintel and post, and eat the meat with bitter greens and unleaved bread.
Only the circumcised can attend this event. After that, I ate unleaved bread for a week and gave thanks and glory to God with the joy and excitement of being liberated. That is why it is also called the Feast of Unleaved Bread. This feast, which commemorates God's grace in liberating the firstborn son from 400 years of slavery and death, has great spiritual significance as well. The Lamb symbolizes Jesus Christ. It is a feast that confirms that we have been set free from our sins and have eternal life through the blood shed on the cross of Jesus, and it also foreshadows the wedding feast of the Lamb. Now, after the Israelites were circumcised and qualified, they kept the third Passover at Gilgal (the first one just before the Exodus, the second one before the departure from Mount Sinai). Only the blood of the Lamb, that is, the blood of Jesus, is another weapon that can give us victory in spiritual warfare. Those who ignore the cross of the Lord will never be victorious. We must always bow down before the cross and beat ourselves into submission and put the cross of the Lord in front of us anytime and anywhere. Those who strive to reveal the glory of the Lord with the assurance of being washed with the blood of the Lord and thanks for the grace of redemption, will surely achieve victory, that is, success.
3. The commander of Jehovah's army was brought to the fore (13-15).
After circumcision and keeping the Passover, Joshua and the Israelites set off for Jericho. As they approached Jericho, they met the captain of the LORD's army. He appeared in the form of a human and was waiting for Joshua with his sword drawn. Earlier, God promised to send a messenger ahead of him to drive the Canahanites out of the land (Exodus 23:20,23; Exodus 33:2). He was ahead of you as promised. God is always with us. He is mobilizing the angels of heaven to support our spiritual battle. Those who depend on that army and follow it will surely win. Even though we cannot see it with the naked eye, I hope that we will become believers who move forward strong and boldly, confident of God or His army with us. Please remember that the horses and chariots of fire that Elisha showed in the city of Dothan (2 Kings 6:17) are always around us. If we maintain our status as children of God, believe in and rely on the blood of the Lord, and follow in the footsteps of the commander of the Lord's army, we will win every day. I hope this life will last a lifetime.