Several things must take place before the Israelites make their assault on the city of Jericho.
First the Lord ensures that the Amorites and Canaanites don't come against the Israelites at this time. He strikes them with fear when they hear of how He made a way for the Israelites through the Jordan River. "Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites." (Joshua 5:1)
The Israelites already defeated two Amorite kings east of the Jordan but the Amorite kings west of the Jordan were evidently gearing up to fight against them, as were the Canaanite kings. Had they all joined forces and marched out together as the Israelites were getting ready to attack Jericho, they would have formed a very formidable army. But now, having heard how the Lord held the waters of the Jordan back during flood stage so His people could cross over, they're shaking in their boots. They decide to stay home and not march out against the army of Israel.
Having taken care of this matter, the Lord prepares His people to move forward. During the wilderness years, the male children born to the Israelites had not undergone the ritual of circumcision which the Lord gave to Abraham as a sign of being consecrated to the Lord. This sign reminded Israelite males that they were in covenant with the Lord and that they must honor Him with obedience to His laws and commandments. All the males born during the forty years in the wilderness must be consecrated to the Lord before they begin taking over the promised land. This consecrating of the body aids in the consecrating of the mind and heart. They are going forward as the Lord's people---as people who are different from all the other nations---and this is something they must keep in mind at all times. "At that time the Lord said to Joshua: 'Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.' So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth." (Joshua 5:2-3)
The following verses are where we receive the information that the ritual of circumcision had not been carried out during the forty years since Israel left Egypt. "Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt---all the men of military age---died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land He had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. So He raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed." (Joshua 5:4-8)
The need to heal in the camp is probably another reason why the Lord struck the Amorites and Canaanites with such fear right after the Israelites crossed the Jordan: the men of Israel are at a disadvantage at the moment. Should their enemies take advantage of this situation, the Israelite soldiers would not be as fierce in the fight as they would normally be. The Lord made certain no one would bother them while they heal from their procedures.
The Lord knows when we are too weak to stand up to an enemy. He is able to hold the enemy back while we regain our physical, emotional, or spiritual strength. Sometimes He allows trials and temptations to come our way in order to build our spiritual muscle, but He carefully orchestrates these experiences at the right times and in the right ways. He knows how much is too much for us to deal with. He doesn't want us buckling under the strain. This is why the Apostle Paul said, "God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13b) The Lord won't allow any situation to go on one second longer than it needs to go on in order to accomplish His purpose for it.
Tomorrow we'll study the second half of Joshua 5 in which two more things take place prior to the battle of Jericho. The Israelites will observe Passover and then Joshua will encounter a person who declares himself to be the commander of the Lord's army. We will discuss why this is considered one of several appearances of the pre-incarnate Christ in the Old Testament.
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