God at Work in History (3): Before the Battle: God Prepares His People--Joshua 5

Before the Battle

The Jordan has been crossed. The memorial stones have been set up. The next great event in Joshua's unfolding story is Joshua 5—Israel's preparation before the conquest of Jericho.

Rather than rushing immediately into battle, God first prepares His people spiritually. It is a powerful reminder that God's greatest victories begin with renewed hearts.

Israel finally stood in the Promised Land. Forty years of wandering were over. The swollen Jordan River lay behind them. Jericho—the first great fortress of Canaan—stood before them.

Everything seemed ready for war.

But God had something else in mind.

Before Israel would fight a single battle, He called them to stop.

The world teaches us to hurry toward action. God often calls us first to worship, obedience, and holiness.

Joshua 5 reminds us that God's work is never merely about military victory or outward success. He is always forming a holy people for His own glory.

A New Generation Receives the Covenant Sign

The generation that left Egypt had largely died in the wilderness because of unbelief. During those years of wandering, the covenant sign of circumcision had not been practiced among the younger generation.

Now, in the shadow of Jericho's walls, God commanded Joshua to circumcise the men of Israel.

It was an astonishing command.

For several days the army would be physically vulnerable, unable to fight. From a military standpoint it made no sense.

But God's people would enter the land not by trusting military strategy but by trusting Him.

Obedience always comes before victory.

"Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Joshua 5:9

Even the name of the place testified to God's grace.

Gilgal means "rolling away."

God was removing the shame of Egypt and renewing His covenant people.

The Passover Returns

Next, Israel celebrated the Passover.

For forty years they had lived between Egypt and Canaan.

Now they paused to remember the night when God had spared them through the blood of the Passover lamb.

Before they conquered the land, they remembered their Redeemer.

The order matters.

God's people never earn His blessings through their victories.

They receive His grace first.

Every future battle would be fought by people who had already been redeemed.

Manna Ceases

The next day something remarkable happened.

The manna that had fallen from heaven every morning for forty years simply stopped.

Instead, Israel ate the produce of the Promised Land.

"The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land." Joshua 5:12

God's provision changed, but His faithfulness did not.

The wilderness season had ended.

The same God who had fed them with bread from heaven would now sustain them through the fruitfulness of the land He had promised Abraham centuries earlier.

God's methods may change.

His promises never do.

The Commander of the Lord's Army

Then comes one of the most mysterious and majestic moments in all of Joshua.

Joshua looked up and saw a man standing before him with a drawn sword.

Joshua asked,

"Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" Joshua 5:13

The answer was unexpected.

"No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." Joshua 5:14

Joshua immediately fell facedown in worship.

The Commander instructed him:

"Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." Joshua 5:15

The words echo God's call to Moses before the burning bush.

Many Christians throughout history have understood this Commander to be a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ—the divine Warrior who leads the armies of heaven.

Whether one adopts that interpretation or sees this as the Lord's chief angelic commander, the central message remains the same: the battle belongs to the Lord.

Joshua's question had been, "Whose side are You on?"

God's answer was deeper.

The question is never whether God is on our side.

The question is whether we are on His.

Walking with God Through History

Joshua 5 teaches us that preparation is often more important than action.

• Before walls fall...

• before victories come...

• before new chapters begin...

• God calls His people to renewed obedience, worship, remembrance, and surrender.

Our greatest need is not better strategies but deeper fellowship with the Lord who goes before us.

The Commander still leads His people today.

And those who follow Him can move forward with confidence, knowing that every true victory belongs to Him.

Next Wednesday: The Fall of Jericho — When Faith Brings Down the Walls (Joshua 6).

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Lord Jesus, I am so glad that I can count on you to lead against the enemy. Strengthen me to stand behind You faithfully. Amen

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Ho! my com­rades, see the sig­nal

Jesus waves on high;

Satan’s bat­tle­ments are reel­ing;

Hear our cap­tain’s cry.

Storm the fort! For I am lead­ing!

I have shown you how!

Shout the an­swer back to Hea­ven,

We are rea­dy now!

See! the lof­ty walls are frown­ing,

Held by Sa­tan’s pow­er;

Sin en­shrouds the world in dark­ness;

Now’s the storm­ing hour.

Refrain

See! the pro­phets now are show­ing

How the fort must fall;

There is no such thing as fail­ing;

Shout, my com­rades all.

Refrain

Fierce and long the siege has last­ed,

But the end is near;

Onward leads our great com­mand­er;

Cheer, my com­rades, cheer!

Refrain

Words: Jus­tus B. Vin­ton, 1879