In our study this morning, Joshua has led the people of God to the place called Gilgal. One of the many lessons that we will learn in Joshua is that the next generation of Israelites are going to experience the fulfillment of the promises that God gave to their parents and grandparents. Joshua was going to see GOD perform the promises and miracles that He not only gave unto Moses, but to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Our God is a promise keeping God!

From a military standpoint, the perfect moment to attack Jericho would have been immediately upon crossing the Jordan River. The inhabitants of Jericho couldn’t help but tremble at the thought of such a powerful God; but instead of allowing the people to attack at the moment in which Jericho was most fearful (Joshua 5:1), God wanted them to stop and get their hearts right with Him and aligned with His will. Instead of allowing them to immediately go into battle, God instructed the Israelites to be circumcised. In fact, God is going to command them to reinstitute two rites that they had not practiced in the wilderness – Circumcision and Passover (5:2,10). Circumcision was the sign of the covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17:9-14), identifying the individual as a member of the covenant community, and it was a prerequisite for participating in the Passover (Exodus 12:48).

No doubt Joshua was praying and wondering what the next step would be. Erwin Lutzer commenting on verses 13-15 of chapter 5 writes: “There was still an important question that needed an answer. Who would be in charge of the military campaign against Jericho? Joshua needed some assurance that he was under the control of someone mightier than he. Unexpectedly, he relearned where he fit in the military chain of command.” “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host (army) of the LORD am I now come.” (Joshua 5:13,14) This Person of course is The Lord Jesus Christ in a pre-incarnate appearance, which is known in Scripture as a Christophany. As Captain of The Lord’s Host, He was in control of the Lord's armies in Heaven and on the earth. He represented the unseen army of angels who were under His command to fight for the people of God. Thus, in the chain of command, He told Joshua that He was in charge. He told Joshua that He did not come to take sides, but to take over! Joshua now realized that it was not a matter of sides, but a matter of sovereignty. Jericho would indeed fall, but it would not be a matter of Israel’s resources and strength, but God’s.

Beloved, for every Jericho that you and I will face in life, let us never forget that this very same Lord Jesus is in charge and in control. “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38) Trust Him. Selah