Learning on the Way
Joshua 5: Crossing the Spiritual Jordan
Sermon Summary
This sermon explores Joshua 5 as a spiritual transition for the nation of Israel. After God miraculously parted the Jordan River and 2 million people crossed on dry ground, God commanded something unexpected – instead of attacking their paralyzed enemies, He called for circumcision of all the men, making them vulnerable. This chapter reveals three crucial spiritual movements: from fear to faith (verses 1-3), from shame to honor (verses 4-9), and from wilderness to promise (verses 10-15). God’s priorities differ from human military strategy – He values obedience over opportunity and consecration over conquest. The chapter demonstrates that our identity comes not through achievements but through our relationship with God, and that His faithfulness doesn’t depend on our performance.
Key Points
- God’s priorities often differ from human wisdom – He values obedience over opportunity
- Sometimes God grants victory over enemies to call us to deeper consecration rather than immediate action
- The “reproach of Egypt” represented 40 years of being seen as failures and wanderers
- God doesn’t just remove shame – He replaces it with honor as His children
- The end of manna marked a transition from supernatural to natural provision, but God’s provision continues
- Our identity is established through submission to God, not assertion of our position
- God specializes in removing what we cannot remove ourselves
Small Group Questions
The sermon describes how God paralyzed Israel’s enemies but then made His own people vulnerable through circumcision. Share about a time when God’s timing or methods seemed counterintuitive to you. How did you respond?
Joshua 5:2 shows God commanding circumcision “at that time” when victory seemed within reach. How do you distinguish between seizing human opportunities and waiting for God’s timing in your own life decisions?
The “reproach of Egypt” wasn’t just about uncircumcision but about 40 years of being seen as failures. What “reproach” or shame from your past has God rolled away in your life? How has He replaced shame with honor?
When the manna stopped, Israel had to trust God’s provision through ordinary means rather than supernatural provision. How do you recognize and praise God for His “plain brown paper” provisions in your everyday life?
Joshua asked the commander of the Lord’s army, “Are you for us or against us?” and received the answer “No.” How does this challenge our tendency to assume God is on “our side” in conflicts or divisions?
The chapter ends with Joshua removing his sandals on holy ground, establishing his identity through submission rather than achievement. In what areas of your life do you need to move from self-assertion to humble submission before God?
Key Verses Joshua 5:1-15, Romans 2:29
Application On The Way
This week, identify one area where you’ve been waiting for “the right opportunity” to obey God. Instead of waiting for circumstances to align perfectly, take a step of obedience this week, trusting that God values your faithfulness over perfect timing.
Want to Go Deeper
Additional Scripture References:
- Romans 2:25-29 (circumcision of the heart)
- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (wilderness generation as example)
- Philippians 3:3 (true circumcision)
- Colossians 2:11-15 (spiritual circumcision in Christ)
- Exodus 3:1-6 (Moses and the burning bush)
- Deuteronomy 8:1-10 (God’s provision in wilderness and promise)
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 (new creation in Christ)
- 1 Peter 2:9-10 (from not a people to God’s people)
Personal Reflection Questions:
Read Philippians 3:3 where Paul speaks of those “who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.” How does this connect to the lesson of Joshua 5 about external signs needing internal reality? In what ways might you be putting confidence in external religious practices rather than heart transformation?
Consider Deuteronomy 8:2-3 which explains God’s purpose in the wilderness wandering: “to humble you and to test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.” How might your current “wilderness” experiences be serving God’s purposes of testing and humbling you? What is God revealing about your heart through present challenges?