Joshua
5:15 And the commander of the Lord's army
said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you
are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
The story of Joshua is an
important part of sacred history. Joshua is restoring Israel to her previous
state. This text reminds us of Israel’s struggle in Egypt under Moses’
leadership. Now we have Joshua bringing Israel back into the covenant
relationship established through Abraham, Isaac, and Moses.
Under Joshua’s leadership,
we see Israel’s atonement for a whole generation’s neglect of God’s covenant
relationship. The neglect of the details of the covenant was due in part to the
sin of the previous generation in their wanderings in the desert. Now, the
fathers went out circumcised, identified as people of God and experiencing the
saving act of God.
This section of Chapter 5 is
a test. God had given Joshua commands to circumcise the men of Israel. They
also kept the Passover as was done by Moses. Then, the divine messenger appears
and places demands upon the human recipient. The story describes in detail the
obedience of Joshua.
Joshua 5 stands as a
testimony to God’s greatness in enduring the unfaithfulness of people. God
alone stirs the hearts of a new generation, giving hope to them through
faithful obedience to his covenant. It reminds us today and the generations
after us, that faithfulness to Christ even when the result might be shame and
suffering, will bring fruitfulness and blessing to his people. Joshua stands as
a promise of divine appearance and divine protection for a leader ready to
worship and obey.
