Joshua 5-8

Two important rituals precede the Israelites first battle for the Promised Land. First, because no men were circumcised during the forty-year exile in the desert, all submit to the knife.  Then, they celebrate Passover. On that same day, the manna from heaven that had fed them during their long journey ceases. To demonstrate His presence and commitment to them, the Lord sends an angel with a sword to lead the Israelites into battle, who announces, "I am the captain of the host of the Lord and I have just arrived."  Why "just arrived", I wonder? Isn't God always there for us? Perhaps the angel chooses these words to remind us that while God is always present and available for us, He comes to us in a special way when we are in need. 

What follows is a great story of how the walls of Jericho come down as a result of the Israelites blowing ram's horns and shouting, as they had been instructed by the Lord through Joshua. And then they massacred the people of the city--every last one except the family of Rahab, the harlot, who had aided the scape of Joshua's spies. But despite all He had done for them, the Israelites--or at least one of their number--disobeyed the Lord's precise instructions about hauling off booty from the city. He withdraws his aid and the Israelites are (temporarily) rebuffed at Ai. The Lord insists to Joshua that he find and remove the disobedient person. A man named Achan, of the tribe of Judah, is found to be the plunderer, and he is taken to the Valley of Achor, where he is stoned to death by the Israelites. The Israelites then conquer Ai in a rousing battle scene, using an ambush per the Lord's instructions to secure the city. Joshua built an altar to the Lord, and in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote the law on to unhewn stones as God had instructed  Moses. Joshua then "read aloud all the words of the law, the blessings and the curses, exactly as written in the book of the law. Every single word that Moses had commanded, Joshua read aloud to the entire community." 

As we have seen, time and time again, the Lord reminds the Israelites, by word, action, and ritual, that the law is and must be central to their lives--impacting every aspect of their existence. This is no less true for me personally. God's Word, His message through this Bible and through His Son, as intermediated through His (far from perfect) Church, must guide my life. It must not just be reflected or observed in my actions, but it must also penetrate to my soul.