First Things First! - Joshua 5:1-12

Good morning. It's always so good to have the opportunity to spend time with the church family

For those that are visiting again, as I've said many times before thank you so much for Being a part of our worship this morning

It's always good to see new faces here in our midst now if you brought your

Bibles with you today Let's go ahead and turn to the book of Joshua Now as many of you know, we've been in Joshua here for the first few chapters

We're going to be beginning a brand new chapter this morning We're going to find ourselves in Joshua chapter 5 verses 1 through 12

And the title of this message is first things first now if you recall in our previous study at the end of Joshua chapter 4 we

Find the nation of Israel finally crossing the Jordan River And as they accomplished this task, they would establish two memorials of 12 stones each

So this moment in time would be remembered as spiritually significant for this was a time when a new generation would rise where God would fulfill his promises to Israel and how a nation would begin to transition from a wilderness wandering people under Moses's direction to a people committed to conquest under Joshua So many ways we find here that God now would remind the nation of Israel of their

Identity as God's people and the memorials that they constructed in that previous chapter

Will be a symbol of God's miraculous works It would unify them as a nation in the present time.

And of course it would affirm the promised victories that would come But before the impending conquest and the victories that would follow

God, of course would pause Israel's advance So that first things could come first For in Joshua chapter 5 we see that the nation of Israel would be compelled to renew their covenant identity

Preparing them spiritually for the conquest that laid ahead In chapter 11 of the book entitled the sovereignty of God A .W.

Pink He addressed how God orchestrates these moments in time for his divine purpose where he said this

He said how blessed it is to know That our course is all mapped out for us by infinite wisdom

That nothing can hinder the accomplishment of his eternal purpose concerning us

So with that said Let's look at our passage that is before us. Let's look at the first 12 verses of Joshua chapter 5

The writer says this so it was when all the kings of the

Amorites Who were on the west side of the Jordan and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea

Heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we'd crossed over that their heart

Melted and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel at that time

The Lord said to Joshua make flint knives for yourself and circumcised the sons of Israel again the second time

So Joshua made flint knives for himself and Circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of Horseskins And this is the reason why

Joshua circumcised them all the people who had come out of Egypt Who were males all men of war had died in the wilderness on the way after they'd come out of Egypt For all the people who came out had been circumcised

But all the people born in the wilderness on the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised

For the children of Israel walked 40 years in the wilderness Till all the people who were men of war who came out of Egypt were consumed because they did not obey

The voice of the Lord to whom the Lord swore that he would not show The land which the

Lord had sworn to their fathers that he would give us a land flowing with milk and honey Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom he raised up in their place

For they were uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way So it was when they had finished circumcising all the people that they stayed in their places in camp till they were healed

Then the Lord said to Joshua This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you

Therefore the name of this place is called Gilgal till this day Now the children of Israel camped at Gilgal and kept the

Passover on the 14th day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho and As they ate the produce of the land on the day after Passover unleavened bread and parched grain on the very same day

Then the manna ceased on the day after that They had eaten the produce of the land and the children of Israel no longer had manna

But they ate of the food of the land of Canaan that year Now bear in mind here the passage that we just read it occurs immediately after This miraculous crossing of the

Jordan River and it symbolizes a new era of inheritance here in the promised land

But as this era begins, of course, we see that first things have to come first Which of course we're going to address in the following three points in our message this morning

The first point that I would like to visit with you on is that of a sovereign fear we will see this in Joshua chapter 5 verse 1

This will then bring us to the second point in our message this morning Where we will see of bringing back of a covenant sign.

This is seen in Joshua chapter 5 verses 2 through 9 This will then bring us to the third and the final point of our message this morning

Where we will see quite clearly a new beginning and a new provision This will be seen in Joshua chapter 5 verses 10 through 12

So what we see here in Joshua chapter 5 verses 1 through 12 is a testament of God's preparation of Israel for for victory through a covenant renewal and This renewal would instill a sovereign fear in the hearts of their enemies all the while returning them to a covenant sign via circumcision

We also see a major transition in terms of God's providence as well

Where the nation of Israel would celebrate the Passover at the provision as the provision of manna ends and from that point forward we would see that God's provision would then come forth from the promised land from that point forward and Just as God is teaching the nation of Israel to trust in his sovereign faithfulness this now brings us to the very point of our message this morning a message as the

Israelites now find themselves in the promised land where they were met with a sovereign fear in Joshua chapter 5 verse 1

We see a brief insight here into the mindset of the Amorite and the Canaanite Kings Where the writer says that the their hearts melted they became dispirited

Just as Rahab the harlot had had told the spies all the way back in Joshua chapter 2 verses 9 through 11

So what we see here is a sovereign fear in the hearts of the enemy Who were just beginning to see

God's plan unfold for the people of Israel? Now what caused this fear?

You know one observation that we readily see here is that the Kings would bear witness to a miraculous fulfillment as news of the

Jordan crossing Spread echoes of God's promises all the way back in Exodus chapter 15 verses 14 through 16

We're growing louder and louder No human endeavor could have really caused the waters of the

Jordan River to dry up allowing an entire nation of his Entire nation of Israel to cross over on dry ground unhindered

And this miraculous act of course would be yet another indicator that God's intention was to fulfill his promise to Israel And it would demonstrate his absolute sovereignty over all of creation as well of over all nations

And so these Kings would respond in fear For they knew that the battle was over before it began

Another thing that contributed to this sovereign fear was a certainty of outcome Again in Joshua chapter 5 verse 1 we find the condition of fear took place as soon as they heard

Of course, this would ultimately be a precursor to the the magnitude of the impending conquest to come

This is clearly understood when we look at the Hebrew wording that's behind this reference

Which is not only found in Joshua chapter 5 verse 1 But we also find it used in subsequent passages in correlation with each stage of conquest from that point forward now

The context here is quite clear And that is the fear that was being experienced by these

Kings was not a fear of the unknown But rather it was a fear that comes from a very clear understanding that a predetermined and a certain outcome was underway

So there's much going on here in this opening verse of Joshua chapter 5 and with that We also have an important application that we should also look at as well

You know the fear of the Lord is an amazing thing which has had a profound effect on mankind throughout the ages and it is still the case today as Christians there's much to learn from Sovereign fear being experienced by these pagan

Kings We find this to be the case in the book of Proverbs in Proverbs chapter 9 verse 10

Where the writer tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the

Holy One is understanding So while the fear of the Lord would strike dread in the hearts of these pagan

Kings For the Christian we find this same fear to be quite beneficial And why is that?

It's because it is a sovereign fear that drives us to the cross as Christians our relationship with God is not marked by a fear as one would have for a tyrant trembling at their feet

But rather it's a sovereign fear. It's a devoted fear It's a reverent fear much like a child would have for their own father

But in this case, it's a father who is both infinitely kind and infinitely just It's a sovereign fear that made the

Prophet Isaiah cry woe is me for I am undone It is a sovereign fear that sent the prodigal son running home not because he he doubted his father's love

But rather because he finally understood the cost of that love This sovereign fear is not the enemy of joy for the

Christian, but rather it is our root It's the root of our joy in Christ And as Christians the sum of our lives, of course should be marked by continual worship

Which cannot exist outside of the fear of the Lord? So for the

Christian The fear of the Lord is a promise for life and it's a deliverance from peril in modern -day

Christianity we see Congregations will oftentimes sing about grace while conveniently omitting the wrath that such grace required

Jesus Christ knew this all too. Well as he hung on the cross dying for our sins my brothers and sisters

When we fear the Lord we see the cross for what it is It's not a sentimental transaction

But rather it's the very place where where God's holy justice and God's holy love come together and perfect atonement for us

Let us always remember that the same God who terrifies us with his majesty and his glory

Is the same God who rescues us with grace and mercy? So as a sovereign fear would course strike dread in the hearts of these pagan

Kings We find as Christians. It's a fear that shapes our lives instead It's a fear that makes us generous when maybe we have little it's a fear that keeps us honest when maybe lying would be easier

And it's a fear that keeps us prayerful when desperation and despair is screaming all around us

This is the practical outworking of the fear of the Lord And it's why we as a church will always insist on a regenerate church membership

It's why we baptize believers only and why only baptized believers will partake in communion

Because the fear of the Lord compels us to obey in this manner It's why we preach the whole counsel of God including the judgment of sin and the damnation of hell

Why because to diminish that reality of God's justice is to deny sinners the urgency to repent?

so the fear that would make these pagan Kings tremble is The means by which we find joy as a

Christian for it allows us to literally embrace a reverent fear of God abiding and our trust in him all

Simultaneously in the same heart it allows us as children of God to bow before his throne and then to feast at his table

So the fear of the Lord is not the end of our story as it would be with these pagan Kings But rather it is the beginning of a relationship that sustains us for eternity

Now this brings us to the next point in our message this morning where the nation of Israel is bringing back a covenant sign

In Joshua chapter 5 verses 2 through 9 we see now that God commands

Joshua to circumcise the new generation at Gilgal Now it's an important to remember that this new generation was comprised of those wilderness born sons who were?

uncircumcised due to the unfaithfulness of their fathers We see this disobedience documented in Numbers chapter 14

Now many would view this as a mere medical procedure, but this command was much more than that It was a call to correct a condition of reproach that had followed the nation of Israel out of Egypt and of course, it was also a covenant sign which

Symbolized purification and a recommitment to the Abrahamic covenant, which was addressed in Genesis chapter 17

So as we consider this condition We probably need to go over some background here as it relates to the institution and the meaning of circumcision as an institution circumcision dates all the way back to the times of Abraham and it would serve as a generational sign of the

Old Covenant It was the means by which God separated his people from the pagan people around them

Which we clearly see in Genesis chapter 17 verse 10 the writer says

Quoting God here my covenant which you shall keep between me and you and Your descendants your descendants after you every male child among you shall be circumcised

Now this was a very clear command It was a very clear Expectation there was really no room for interpretation here and it certainly wasn't a suggestion

For it was a sign of inclusion in a covenant community which with God which was started with Abraham all the way back in Genesis chapter 17

However, even back in the Old Testament We were already beginning to see foreshadows pointing forward to what it would mean in the

New Covenant here Where we see the emphasis of a heart renewal instead, which is clearly seen in Deuteronomy chapter 10 verse 16 as well as a in John, I think

Jeremiah chapter 4 verse 4 as well So early on now we're already beginning to see this foreshadow that would ultimately a point as Point to it as an external sign of an inward change in the life of a person the

Apostle Paul He also addressed the condition as well in the letter to the church at Rome where he said this

We find this in Romans chapter 2 verses 28 and 29 Where Paul said he says for he is not a

Jew who is one outwardly nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh but he is a

Jew who is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit?

Not in the letter whose praise is not from men, but from God So while circumcision here marked

Israel as being set apart from the pagan nations around them It actually foreshadowed a permanent spiritual cleansing and a removal of of sins defilement

Which is seen in the New Covenant that we operate under today So as an institution here circumcision did not automatically confer salvation

We even see many circumcised Jews would actually be cut off for their unbelief We see this in Romans chapter 9 verses 6 through 8 however, the physical act of circumcision did point to faith and repentance back in the days of Joshua it

Was a central point that we see here in Joshua chapter 5 and another important observation that we see is what circumcision pointed forward to in the

New Covenant where we see that circumcision is fulfilled and abrogated in Jesus Christ So while circumcision was a covenant sign for people of Israel people of Israel We find in the

New Covenant that it is no longer really required In his work entitled the mysteries of Providence John Flavel described the

New Covenant in the following manner where he said this He said the covenant of grace is the foundation of all comfort

It is the charter of all our hopes and it is the seal of all our mercies

In fact the Apostle Paul directly addressed this issue of circumcision We see this in his letter to the

Colossian Church in Colossians chapter 2 verses 11 and 12 Where Paul said this?

He said in him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands By putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ buried with him in baptism in Which you were also raised with him through faith and the working of God who raised him from the dead

So Christ's death is the true circumcision by cutting off the old man baptism now

Which we see many times in our church, especially at the Mills house this past Sunday Baptism, of course is the new spiritual reality of the

New Covenant so by the time we find ourselves here in the New Covenant the Relevance of circumcision is indifferent at best and spiritually dangerous if it's being trusted as the sole source of one's

Righteousness, in fact during the Jerusalem Council, which we see in Acts chapter 15 We find that the

Apostles did not even require their Gentile converts to be circumcised So we see very clearly that it was a thing a part of the

Old Covenant So in the end this bloody and ethnic and male only sign of the

Old Covenant Would give way to this inclusive spiritual sign of baptism, which is what we see in the

New Covenant It was an outward sign of an inward covenant pointing to the heart circumcision by the

Spirit and of course we see this in Deuteronomy chapter 30 verse 6 as well as in Romans chapter 2 verses 28 and 29 in Covenant theology it parallels believers baptism not regenerative

But rather as a seal of those professing faith, which is covered in Colossians chapter 2 So there's a lot in view here

Especially from a historical and a theological in a covenantal perspective and as such we also have a life application in this point as well

You know as Christians we live in a world where spiritual compromise is encouraged by our popular culture and yet as a

Christian We are called on to renew our commitment with Christ Let us rely on God to equip us for the conquest through obedience just as he did with Joshua and the people of Israel Another thing that we also should keep in mind is that God's sovereign grace is always at work

It always initiates it always sustains and he renews us as his covenant people for his glory

Calling on us to be faithful through obedience Through signs that point to Christ You know it was a sign of circumcision in the

Old Covenant that would Point to the role of the spiritual circumcision that we see here in the

New Covenant In fact, the Apostle Paul said it best in Philippians chapter 3 verse 3 Where he said for we are the circumcision who worship

God in spirit Rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh

So the final analysis here we see three key takeaways here first We see that circumcision is permissible but it's not commanded which we see in 1st

Corinthians chapter 7 verse 9 and as it relates to the medical procedure of Circumcision parents may choose to do it whether it's for medical or cultural reasons, but it's certainly not commanded

Secondly when we look at the account that we see in Joshua chapter 5 We find that baptism is the

New Covenant parallel, which is in view here and here at this church Of course, we administer baptism to believers.

And of course the children of the children of believers upon their profession of faith

Third we see that true circumcision For the New Testament Church, of course is a circumcision of the heart

It's more symbolic of what has taken place an inward change which manifests itself outward in the manner in which we live

Now there's much to think about here I mean there are lessons here to be learned from Joshua and the

Nation of Israel and for just as we are called on to fulfill God's promise to Move forward spreading the gospel teaching all nations growing in Christ So too we find that this promise started all the way back to God's promise to Abraham We are called to spiritual renewal through covenant signs which reminds us of the past deliverance that we see from the

Old Covenant and of course the new provision that we see under the New Covenant And just as Israel was chosen for God's glory

I'm here to tell you that even this too points to Christ who conquers hearts through the gospel message

Now all these things were foreshadows to the New Covenant that we have in Christ Where we as believers are now marked by faith in baptism

Each one of us is on a pilgrimage where we will wage battles against sin where we will encounter opposition where we will experience adversity

All these things we can expect in the steps that we take in life's journey But this my dear brothers and sisters is what sanctification requires of us

It is a daily war but always remember that victory of course begins with God's work and not our own

And let us remember that as believers we can always always rest in God's sovereignty

With all that said I'd like to come to our last point where we find a new beginning and a new provision

You know life is compromised of new beginnings and clear demonstrations of God's promise I think if each one of us look back on our lives through the years we would find that to be the case

And in the closing verses of our passage here we find both of these things now coming to the forefront of this story

So what we see here in Joshua chapter 5 verses 10 through 12 is a passage that stands as a monument to God's faithfulness

For the message here is twofold as the Passover reminds us of the redemption by blood and likewise the provision

The discontinuance of the provision of manna really brings an end to one covenant so to speak and it declares sanctification

Which by way of inheritance in the other stage? So Israel the nation of Israel here is facing a moment of transition.

And of course, we will find a new beginning comes with that In Joshua chapter 5 verses 10 and 11

We see on the 14th day of the first month that the children of Israel pitched their tents on the plains of Golan east of Jericho And with the memories of 40 years in the wilderness still quite fresh on their mind

They found themselves at a new beginning as they stood on that ground that God had promised to Abraham It was a long time coming but it finally had arrived and As they kept the

Passover they would look on the horizon the city that would become their first conquest in the promised land

You know one thing that we clearly see in Exodus chapter 12 is that? Passover commemorates redemption by blood and it typifies

Christ's atoning work In his first letter to the Corinthian Church The Apostle Paul spoke of the importance of this where he said this in 1st

Corinthians chapter 5 verse 7 He said therefore a purge the old leaven that you may be a new lump since you truly are unleavened for Indeed Christ our

Passover was sacrificed for us No longer did they have to slaughter a lamb while camping out in the wilderness

For this was a new beginning that would cause them to reflect back on all of God's providence

Which brought them to this very moment in time? It was a testament of God's providence

When the angel of death had passed over them in Egypt where the waters of the

Red Sea closed in behind them and consumed the Egyptian army It was a promise and a providence that would of course

Sustain them for 40 straight years as they wandered in the wilderness being provisioned with manna

But this Passover was different It was a new beginning as of course we see it was the very first observance of Passover in the promised land and Likewise, it was the last meal to be consumed under God's old provision as well

And so the old provision of course would cease but God's faithfulness would remain Which we see in this new provision here at the end of this chapter

In Joshua chapter 5 verse 12 We find Joshua in the nation of Israel now at Gilgal and they would observe

Passover on that 14th day They would of course be eating unleavened bread and parched grain from the land

Subsequently the manna would cease the next day just as God's new provision found in Canaan would be coming online

So what we have here is now as an official end of this wilderness provision and the start of promised abundance through inheritance of the promised land and At this point, of course we would see where God would fulfill his promise

Which is found in Exodus chapter 16 verse 35 Now one thing that is readily seen here is

God's ending of the manna shows that God's faithfulness It really is seen throughout the transitions of life

God will always provide what is needed in the new covenant. We feast on Christ He's the true bread from heaven through the

Lord's Supper, which the Apostle John records in John chapter 6 verse 35 Where John records this he says and Jesus said to them

I am the bread of life he who comes to me shall never hunger and he who believes in me shall never thirst

Now think about this for four decades God had fed his covenant people bread from heaven

It was a daily miracle that declared both his sovereign care and their utter dependence on him

Every morning they would wake up and the ground was white with its daily provision And of course we find that every morning they would gather only what they needed because it would not keep

What a beautiful testament to God's grace It was grace without measure Even when that grace had kept the children of Israel in the wilderness under discipline.

God was still faithful in spite of that So when the manna stops here not because of God's inability to provide but rather because their wilderness journey had ended

The nation of Israel would no longer be pilgrims under God's judgment, but rather they would be a people beginning to claim their inheritance

Now bear in mind here that the ending of manna from heaven was not a withdrawal of God's divine favor either

But rather it was the fulfillment of God's promise, which is seen in Leviticus chapter 25 verse 2

Where the writer says speak to the children of Israel and say to them when you come into the land, which

I gave you Then the land shall keep a Sabbath to the Lord So the land itself would now yield its increase and it's from this new provision that the nation of Israel would

Sustain itself here. And so now that we've really considered this point of new beginnings and of course

God's provision We find ourselves with one final application if we may You know as Christians if we look on our lives, we will find that our lives here on earth is

Really a compilation of new beginnings intertwined with each season of life

We find God's past deliverance through trials and he's given us the strength, of course to push forward in a faith -driven future and in many ways we find these transition seasons taking us from a dependence to Responsibility which in turn becomes opportunities for us to share in God's new provision

As we look back on the many times that we've partaken in the Lord's Supper we do so in a worthy manner

Celebrating Christ's finished work as we live intently in the land of gospel promises and while provisions

And circumcision was maybe but a temporary typological sign of the Abrahamic covenant.

It is nonetheless One that serves as a foreshadow for us to Christ's atoning work which now illustrates our need for a heart renewal in the new covenant

What circumcision once meant was fulfilled and replaced by baptism which signifies our union with Christ?

And as a church, we are no longer under the Mosaic law where circumcision is required as a mark of covenant membership

But rather we are now true children of Abraham who believe who follow the sign of faith and not birth

For what we have learned in this passage today is the important principle of sola fide, which is faith alone

We learned the importance of the priesthood of all believers as well as the regulative principle

Which are the ordinances that Christ has instituted for the modern -day church This my brothers and sisters is our new beginning.

It's not a feeling It's not a fresh start on our own terms But rather it's a publicly it's a public declaration of what

God has regenerated in our hearts so in the end Joshua chapter 5 verses 1 through 12

Reveals God's pattern for his people as he sovereignly prepares the way

For which we see him instilling fear in Israel's enemies as he renews his covenant

Which we see in the act of circumcision and now baptism in the new covenant and how he faithfully

Provides in the Passover observance and his new provision This is all of grace

And this is how God keeps his own and this is of course our calling to obedient faith

Let's pray Our Heavenly Father Lord, we've Just covered a wonderful passage of your deliverance of your promise fulfilled of an inheritance to be claimed

Or let us always Reflect on our heart and make sure that we put first things first That we order things in a manner so we can move forward in faith

Lord bless our steps in this journey that we call life Let we steward our let us steward our life in a manner that glorifies you and bless this communion