Jos-Lesson 6

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JOSHUA 5
LESSON #06
BE AN OVERCOMER BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF GOD’S REST

• Memory verse: Psalms 27:14

• The Israelites had crossed the Jordan River ready for battle. That was what they thought. In God’s eyes they were not ready for battle. The interesting thing about man’s thinking is that it is just the opposite of God’s way of doing things. The last thing you would want to do for an army about to go to war is to make them physically weaker. That is what circumcision would accomplish.

• Read Joshua 5:1-12
• The re-institution of circumcision
• Background:
• Origin of the practice of circumcision:
• From God’s viewpoint, circumcision was a sign of God’s covenant relationship with Israel.
• From man’s viewpoint, circumcision was a physical mark in the body to indicate a personal relationship with God.
• It was a national identifying mark for the Jews.
• For the Christian, spiritual circumcision is a seal of the righteousness of faith.
• Read Rom 4:11
• The Old Testament significance:
• There was a relationship between circumcision and obedience. (Jer 4:4 Jer 9:25 Rom 2:25-29 Gal 5:3).
• They were to possess the significance as well as the sign. In other words, the physical mark was supposed to be a sign of an inward change of heart.
• The New Testament significance:
• The New Testament talks about a spiritual circumcision called “the circumcision of the heart”. Therefore, the Old Testament practice prophetically looked forward to the New Testament fulfillment in the new covenant under which we live today as believers in Jesus Christ. (Deu 30:6 Jer 4:4 Col 2:11-13 Phil 3:3)
• What is the New Testament “circumcision of the heart”?
• It is a sign of the new covenant under which we now live. It replaces the Old Covenant of Law.
• Read Heb 8:10.
• It is a sign that we have put away sin under the blood of Jesus and will live in obedience by the power of God.
• It is a spiritual mark indicating a personal relationship with God–a seal of faith. (Rom 4:11)
• It is a inward mark of our spiritual identity that through Jesus Christ we have cut away the sins of the flesh nature.
• In the book of Joshua, why were the people to be circumcised at that specific time? (5)
• Those people born in the wilderness had not been circumcised. In the natural, this was an unwise thing to do at this time because it weakened the men. However, before the battles of life we should have the mark of God’s call upon us.
• Circumcision would make them weak in their own strength so they would have to trust God’s strength.
• This was to be a time of waiting and rest (8).
• Have you ever been through a time where you were sitting on the shelf wondering when God was going to move? Gilgal was a place of waiting and rest (9). It was a place of remembrance (Jos 4:20).
• Gilgal means = a rolling away. It is a rolling away of the reproach of Egypt that was upon them. Remember that Egypt spiritually represents worldliness.
• Gilgal and circumcision mean a cutting away of one’s reliance on the flesh nature and all the sins related to the flesh.
• A time of waiting and rest should include:
• –Reflection and remembrance of where God has brought you.
• –Re-dedication and humility.
• Circumcision and re-dedication include worship.
• They also re-instituted the Passover (10). They had kept only one Passover in the wilderness since Egypt.
• Read Num 9:1-5
• They performed an offering of thanksgiving (11).
• This was a step of faith before possessing the land.
• What should that tell us?
• We should thank God for answered prayer before we see the answer in reality. This is your step of faith. (12) They began to act in faith as though the land was theirs before they possessed it. (Heb 11:1)
• The cooperation between God and man and requires maturity.
• In the same way for us, entering into the blessings of the promises of God means that we must assume the responsibility to spiritually feed ourselves.
• We must get beyond the milk of the Word of God to the meat of the Word of God.
• Waiting on the Lord and God’s rest:
• Read Psa 27:14 Psa 37:34 Heb 4:1-2, 9-11
• What do these verses mean?
• Through the Bible beginning with creation, there is a very important concept we must understand.
• After the six days of creation, God rested on the seventh day. He did not rest because He was tired. He rested to establish this very important spiritual principle.
• This principle was formulated in the Sabbath rest on the seventh day of the week when the Jews were to do no work.
• What is the spiritual principle that the Sabbath day rest was supposed to illustrate for us?
• Man must rest from his own works (good deeds) in order to trust in God’s power.
• Man cannot possess the blessings of God by the works of his own hands. The blessings of God are obtained only by faith in the person and power of the living God.
• Partaking of all of God’s blessings depends on faith in God. Being an overcomer is dependent upon faith–entering God’s rest.
• Notice that the Israelites did not enter God’s rest because of unbelief and had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.
• Now with Joshua, God wants the Israelites to understand this principle of faith to possess the Promised Land.

TYPES OR PREFIGURES OF GOD’S REST

• All the above are Old Testament types or pictures of God’s New Testament rest now.
• Now God’s rest is exemplified in a relationship through Jesus Christ (Heb 4:9,16). “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mat 11:28)
• What does God’s rest include now?
• It includes salvation through the blood of Christ.
• It includes all of God’s promised blessings. (Mat 11:28-29 Heb 4:1)
• What kept the Israelites from entering that also keeps us from entering?
• Hardened hearts. (Heb 3:8)
• Not knowing God’s character and His ways. (Heb 3:10)
• A lack of belief (Heb 3:18) and a lack of faith. (Heb 4:2)
• How do we enter God’s rest?
• Remember to acknowledge what God has done. (Jos 4:20)
• Dedication or re-dedication to God with humility. (Jos 5:3-6)
• Dedicated worship and thanksgiving to God. (Jos 5:10 Heb 11:6)
• Belief that God’s promises are true. (Heb 11:6)
• Remember that belief means that you have knowledge with no action involved.
• This is not enough, only the beginning.
• Faith in God’s promises. (Heb 11:6) Remember that faith means heart knowledge with corresponding action.
• Feed on the Word of God exposing unbelief. (Jos 5:12 Heb 4:12)
• Read Jos 5:13-15 A Theophany
• What is a theophany?
• This is an actual appearance of Christ either in angelic form or in human form.
• How do we know this is Christ and not just an ordinary angel?
• He accepted Joshua’s worship (14). Angels never accepted worship from man.
• The same title is given to Christ.
• Read Heb 2:10.
• Jesus Christ is “the captain of the host”. This is an army of angels.
• Notice the same instruction is given to Joshua as was given to Moses at the burning bush.
• There are various theophanies in the Old Testament and frequently the figure is called “the angel of the Lord” (the angel of Jehovah).
• Lessons for Joshua:
• Joshua is not the captain of salvation but the servant of God.
• He is a prefigure of Christ who is the Captain of our Salvation.
• Christ is making available to Joshua all the hosts of heaven.
• Obedience – those people who know best how to obey, know best how to command.
• Notice that Christ appeared when Joshua was obedient and doing what he was supposed to be doing.
• Application:
• Is there some promise of God that you haven’t seen the fulfillment of or haven’t possessed?
• Recall what God has done for you. Renew your covenant with God.
• Worship Him with faith and thanksgiving. Draw near to Him in obedience. Take responsibility to feed yourself spiritual food.
• And all of the hosts of heaven are there to bring the victory.

HOMEWORK
JOSHUA 6
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of Joshua 5
• Is there some promise of God that you have not seen the fulfillment of or have not possessed?
• What is it?
• From our study of Joshua, what do you need to do to cooperate with God to see Him fulfill it?
• Preparation of Joshua 6
• Read Joshua 6:1-27
• What was the marching plan?
• What was God trying to accomplish through this plan?
• What is the significance of the blast of the rams horn (Jos 6:5)?
• What is the significance of the numbers “6” and “7” throughout Joshua chapter 6?
• Why did they burn the city?
• What battle strategy lessons do we learn from this chapter that helps us with our own battles?
• Memory verse: Hebrews 11:30