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; 6:2a 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 8:30- 32) –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