Joshua 5 is a short chapter but it is filled with wonderful truth.

40 years before, Israel was in fear of the people of Canaan, so much so that they could not trust the Lord to protect them. And now…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. V. 1. They must have thought the swollen Jordan River would keep them safe. God is greater than the Jordan River.

After crossing over and settling at Gilgal, the Lord instructs them in two important things: all males are to be circumcised and they are to celebrate the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day. In their obedience, what happens? The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan. V. 11-12.

God provided manna when there was no food. Now, the land promised to Abraham and his descendants is rich with food provided by what God provides in rich soil, rain, sunshine. God provides more than enough in His great love.

Can you imagine what this time is like? A new beginning promised long ago. What happens next is so amazing. Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. V. 13-15.

Did you catch that? Are you for us or for our enemies? Neither.

The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul and live. Deuteronomy 30:6. A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God. Romans 2:28-29.

Our hearts are being circumcised by God when we learn to trust Him only. He is more than enough, He is everything and what would He have us understand? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, strength; and love your neighbor as yourself. The Lord is not just for us; not just for our “enemies” whoever they may be; He is for all of His children. “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.” Zechariah 2:10-13.

The place where you are standing is holy…not by us, but by our Creator God who will circumcise every heart with His truth which is His great love. He will live among us, not in the war-torn, ravaged world we inhabit but in the New Jerusalem brought down from heaven. Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Our loving, powerful Creator God will accomplish all that He has promised in His word. He is love. What message does He have for us? Believe Him. He is able.