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In Joshua 5
● hear the echo of Rahab’s reports (2:11) in verse 1: Stories of the deeds of the Lord melt hearts and drain spirits,
● notice the detail “flint knives” (2) and their purpose, circumcising the sons of Israel a second time, understanding this to refer to circumcision of the those who had been born in the wilderness, a new generation for the promised land, a new opportunity for faithfulness beyond the “reproach” (9) of the wilderness generation,
● register the significance of the transfer: partaking of the passover with “produce of the land” (10, 11, 12) showed still God’s provision, but now no longer will manna be God’s source of provision, instead God will provide from the “land flowing with milk and honey” (6),
● ponder Joshua’s remarkable encounter with the sword-wielding man: how Joshua frames the moment- us vs. them; how the man slaps aside Joshua’s question with a “No;” how the man announces the astonishing fact that he the “commander of the army of the Lord” (14); and how Joshua’s question about what this commander has to “say” (14) prompts not talk of war and strategy but a command about holiness (15), and
● recognize the parallel events: the holy ground at the burning bush (Exodus 3:5) with Moses is like this holy ground “by Jericho” (13) is with Joshua, seeing in them the importance of holiness and the need for holiness to be commanded and instructed.

Thank you,

Randy Tumlinson