Joshua 5 Circumcision Gilgal Passover Manna Old Corn of the Land Man with a drawn sword

Circumcision First mention: Genesis 17: God’s covenant with Abraham and his seed - v.8: “I will give to thee, and to thy seed all the land of Canaan;” v.10: “this is my covenant- every male among you to be circumcised” Circumcision was given to the nation of Israel, and NOT the church.

Spiritual significance “Circumcision not done by hand, in the putting off of the body of the flesh…buried with him in Baptism.” Colossians 2 v. 11-12 “For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God…and do not trust in the flesh.” Philippians 3 v. 3 Circumcision is the negative side of saying No to the flesh! Baptism answers to putting the flesh in the place of death. (L. M Grant)

Flesh cannot enlist in the warfare; God judges it and sets it aside; and this is the meaning of circumcision. Circumcision is "the putting off of the body of the flesh" in Christ. It is an accomplished fact for every believer, just as much as the Jordan is for each of us, whether or not we realise its import. - Rossier

Gilgal The Israelites always return to Gilgal - except in ch.7v2 where they were defeated. - Ch 4v19; 5v9; 9v6; 10v6; 14v6; etc. The return to Gilgal signifies daily the practical realisation of the fact that the sinful flesh of the believer (who has been raised with Christ) has no right to exist any more. Gilgal is: "the mortification of our members which are upon the earth." Colossians 3: 5-8

Passover Exodus 12 - in Egypt Numbers 9 - at Sinai Joshua 5 - in the Land 2 Chr. 30 - under Hezekiah 2 Chr. 35 - under Josiah Ezra 6 - under Ezra

Passover “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us” 1 Cor.5:7 “All the congregation of Israel shall keep it” Ex 12v47 “no uncircumcised person shall eat it” Ex 12v48 The Passover in Canaan corresponds with what the Lord's Supper is for the Christian.

As to fact: we are in the World. Joshua 5 v.12 Only time the Children of Israel ate all three in the same day As to fact: we are in the World. As to experience: we are the Wilderness. As to Faith: we are in the Land.

Manna Bread of Heaven Manna Light Bread Corn of Heaven Bread of the mighty Spiritual Food Hidden Manna

Manna is Christ down here living for the glory of God; and is the food for His people. Manna was gathered every morning, it was the daily food for the people. If they did not eat they would be: “feeble, faint and weary” Deut.25v18 We to need to gather the things of the Lord daily: - reading his word, meditate on it, obey it, and living it. John ch. 6v31 “ Our Fathers did eat Manna in the Desert” John ch 6v33 “the Bread of God is he which came down from heaven” There is nothing in this world which can sustain the believer spiritually

Old corn of the Land Manna would speak to us of our Lord’s humiliation. Old corn of the land speaks of Christ in his exaltation: “If ye them be risen with Christ, seek those thing above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” Col. 3v1 Heavenly, glorified Christ, as a Man who had been through this sin-stained world in a spotless humanity, the unleavened bread, and who in this same humanity had passed through the fire of judgment like the parched corn, and who, having entered the glory in resurrection, sits as Man at the right hand of God.

Man with the drawn sword Theophanic: Jehovah appearing in a visible form: this happened only a few times: - Gen.18 v1; Ex 3v2; Jud.6v12 etc John could say (ch.1v14) “Word became flesh and dwelt (or tabernacled) among us…” Joshua’s response: No fear: went unto Him Fell on his face Worship Him Shoes off feet: Holy ground

Man with the draw sword The book of Joshua is the book of conflicts and conquests. The sword is freely used in carrying out the divine judgments upon the ungodly tenants of the land. Yet the first drawn sword, mentioned in the book, is in the hand of the Lord as He appeared unto Joshua. He fights for His people. He will yet execute the righteous judgments in the earth, It will be impossible for those who are called to fight under a divine leader to remain associated, individually or corporately, with evil or defilement in the walk.