Meeting God in Canaan Joshua 5 1 -15

Meeting God in Canaan Joshua 5: 1 -15

Israel Was Preparing to Attack Jericho

His Sword in His Hand Joshua 5: 13 • While beside Jericho, Joshua saw a man with a sword drawn in his hand • Joshua went to him, which was a clear sign of his courageous leadership • He asked whether he was for Israel or her enemies

Commander of the Lord’s Army Joshua 5: 14 • He said he had come as Captain of the Lord’s host – As Captain of the Lord’s host, he was commander of all the Lord’s forces including Israel – Therefore, Joshua asked what he wanted him to do

Who Is the Captain of the Lord’s Host? Joshua 5: 15; 6: 2 a • He accepted worship – Notice, the angel rejected such from the apostle John (Revelation 19: 9 -10) • Joshua was to take off his shoes, a sign of profound reverence, because he was on holy ground – (Exodus 3: 5; Leviticus 10: 1 -3) • Though the question was put to the Captain of the Lord’s army, the Lord answered

The Captain’s Instructions Joshua 6: 1 -5 • Jericho was shut up like a city under siege • God promised victory – All the men of war were to march around the city once for six days with 7 priests bearing trumpets of ram’s horns (Lev. 25: 9) before the ark of the covenant – 7 th day, march around the city 7 times, blow the trumpets (the same as were blown for the jubilee, Leviticus 25: 9), great shout from people, go up straight before them

Conveying the Lord’s Directions Joshua 6: 6 -17 • Joshua carefully repeated the Lord’s instructions to the priests and the people – Seven priests were directed to blow seven trumpets as they marched around the city one time each of the first six days and seven times the seventh – The people were to march in silence until the day Joshua told them to give a shout, for, he said, the Lord had given them the city – Only Rahab and her family were to be spared

Jericho Consecrated to the Lord Joshua 6: 18 -19 • Joshua warned the people to abstain from the accursed things lest they be accursed and make the camp of Israel accursed • The silver, gold and vessels of bronze and iron were to be consecrated to the Lord – They were to be placed in the Lord’s treasury

The Fall of Jericho Joshua 6: 20 -25 • That God was behind the fall of Jericho can clearly be seen by the way things happened – The city walls fell down flat following the sound of the trumpets and the great shout of the people • The city was totally destroyed, including men and women of all ages and all the animals • The two spies were sent to safely deliver Rahab and those in her house • The city was burned after sparing the items of gold, silver and vessels of bronze and iron

The Curse on Jericho • Joshua warned the people that the man who rebuilt Jericho would see his firstborn die when he laid the foundation and his youngest die when he set the gates (Joshua 6: 26) • Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho in the days of Ahab (1 Kings 16: 34) – Abiram, his firstborn, died when he laid the foundation – Segub, his youngest, died when he set up the gates

Defeat Because of Sin • Achan took of the accursed thing (Joshua 7: 1; 6: 17 -19 devoted to the Lord) • Joshua sent spies to Ai (Joshua 7: 2 -3) – They said 2, 000 to 3, 000 men should go up • 3, 000 fled before the men of Ai (Joshua 7: 4 -9) – 65 were killed when their hearts melted in fear – Joshua tore his clothes and asked the Lord why – Joshua asked what he should say when Israel turned its back before its enemies, believing the Canaanites would surround and destroy them

Acknowledgment of Sin • God said Israel had sinned, thus they could not stand before their enemies (Joshua 7: 10 -12) – God would not be with them unless they destroyed the accursed thing – In the morning, Joshua was to sanctify Israel and cause them to pass before him • In the morning, Joshua was to sanctify Israel and cause the tribes to pass before him (Joshua 7: 13 -15) – The sinner would be identified by tribe, family, household and man – The man would be burned with fire

Putting Away Sin • Joshua followed God’s directions until Achan was identified (Joshua 7: 16 -26) – He was to give glory to God and confess what he had done – Achan said he saw, coveted and took – Messengers were sent to get the accursed items from his tent – The accursed things were laid before the Lord – Israel stoned him with stones and burned him with fire, placing a heap of stones on top of him which served as a memorial to the fact God will punish

God Reassured Joshua • Once sin had been put aside, God assured Joshua Ai was theirs (Joshua 8: 1 -2) – All the men of war were to go against Ai – The spoil would belong to the people – An ambush would be laid behind the city • Joshua directed 30, 000 to lie in ambush behind the city that night (Joshua 8: 3 -9) – They stayed between Bethel and Ai on the west side while Joshua camped with the people

Ai Was Defeated • The next morning, Joshua and the elders led the rest into battle (Joshua 8: 10 -17) – The king of Ai came out against them and Joshua had them flee, drawing the king and his men out and leaving the city open • Joshua raised his spear and those in ambush set the city on fire (Joshua 8: 18 -29) – The men of Ai were all killed (12, 000) – The livestock and spoil were taken by Israel, as God directed – The city was burned and the king hanged

Pausing to Renew the Covenant • With victory fresh on their minds, Joshua marched Israel to near Mt. Ebal, where they paused to renew the covenant (Joshua 8: 3032) – In keeping with Deuteronomy 27, Joshua had an altar built of uncut stones and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to God – All Israel watched as Joshua wrote the law on the stones

Blessings and Cursings • Half of Israel stood on the side of the ark that was in front of Mt. Gerazim and half stood in front of Mt. Ebal (Deuteronomy 11: 29) • Those by Gerazim were to read the blessings and those by Ebal the cursings – Mt. Gerazim is fertile and Mt. Ebal is barren – It is significant that all, even the children and strangers, were to be a part of the reading of the law