1 約旦河西亞摩利人的諸王和靠海迦南人的諸王，聽見耶和華在以色列人前面使約旦河的水乾了，等到我們過去，他們的心因以色列人的緣故就消化了，不再有膽氣。
在吉甲行割禮
2那時，耶和華吩咐約書亞說：「你製造火石刀，第二次給以色列人行割禮。」 3約書亞就製造了火石刀，在「除皮山」那裏給以色列人行割禮。 4約書亞行割禮的緣故，是因為從埃及出來的眾民，就是一切能打仗的男丁，出了埃及以後，都死在曠野的路上。 5因為出來的眾民都受過割禮；惟獨出埃及以後、在曠野的路上所生的眾民都沒有受過割禮。 6以色列人在曠野走了四十年，等到國民，就是出埃及的兵丁，都消滅了，因為他們沒有聽從耶和華的話。耶和華曾向他們起誓，必不容他們看見耶和華向他們列祖起誓、應許賜給我們的地，就是流奶與蜜之地。 7他們的子孫，就是耶和華所興起來接續他們的，都沒有受過割禮；因為在路上沒有給他們行割禮，約書亞這才給他們行了。
8國民都受完了割禮，就住在營中自己的地方，等到痊癒了。 9耶和華對約書亞說：「我今日將埃及的羞辱從你們身上滾去了。」因此，那地方名叫吉甲，直到今日。
10 以色列人在吉甲安營。正月十四日晚上，在耶利哥的平原守逾越節。 11逾越節的次日，他們就吃了那地的出產；正當那日吃無酵餅和烘的穀。 12他們吃了那地的出產，第二日嗎哪就止住了，以色列人也不再有嗎哪了。那一年，他們卻吃迦南地的出產。
約書亞和耶和華軍隊的元帥
13 約書亞靠近耶利哥的時候，舉目觀看，不料，有一個人手裏有拔出來的刀，對面站立。約書亞到他那裏，問他說：「你是幫助我們呢，是幫助我們敵人呢？」 14他回答說：「不是的，我來是要作耶和華軍隊的元帥。」約書亞就俯伏在地下拜，說：「我主有甚麼話吩咐僕人。」 15耶和華軍隊的元帥對約書亞說：「把你腳上的鞋脫下來，因為你所站的地方是聖的。」約書亞就照着行了。
各位弟兄姊妹平安，我們今天來到了《約書亞記》第五章，這是一個蠻大的轉折點，也是接續昨天故事的一個重要時節。我們來看看第五章所存在的三個很重要的重點。
1. 行割禮 & 逾越節
來到了第五章，我們一開始就看到了上帝命令約書亞帶領以色列行割禮這件事情。而割禮在《舊約》裡面所記載的，其實沒有特別清楚解釋為什麼要做這件事情，但是呢，我們可以看到在《聖經》的《舊約》之中有很多關於這件事情的記載，而且以色列人非常看重有沒有受過割禮這件事情。
在《聖經》裡面，《創世記》第17章我們最早就看到，當時上帝對亞伯拉罕命令所有的男子生下來第八日都要受割禮，作為立約的證據。
然後在《利未記》第12章第3節又提到說，要為所有生男孩的在第八天為他行割禮。
我們特別看到兩段：在《申命記》第10章第16節提到的是，「你們要將心裡的污穢除掉，不要再硬著頸項。」而同一句話呢，在《耶利米書》第4章第4節提到了：「猶大人和耶路撒冷居民啊，你們當行割禮歸耶和華，將心裡的污穢除掉。」
我們也曾經聽過掃羅寧願死在自己的劍下，也不願意被這些沒有受割禮的非利士人所殺。所以在猶太人的心中，受割禮這件事情是相當重要的。以致於後來在保羅跟猶太人爭論的時候，他們堅持要給基督徒行割禮。當時保羅大力主張說，沒有必要再行肉體上的割禮。這件事情呢，也是當時的猶太人群體中造成一個非常大的爭議。
這一段我們可以看到，約書亞進到迦南地之後才開始行割禮。而行割禮之後，馬上進行了一個重要的事情，就是逾越節。在曠野中的40年之中，其實他們並沒有獻祭的動作。
這也是以色列人從埃及出來以後，40年之久第一次開始行割禮這件事情。這裡說上帝說：「你們行完割禮以後，我把你們在埃及的羞辱滾去了。」
2. 吃那地的土產
我們注意到，約書亞和以色列人來到迦南地之後，進行了幾件非常重要的事情。首先是出埃及之後只記錄了一次手逾越節，是在民數記9章，接下來並沒有紀錄他們在曠野四十年之久有沒有再守過逾越節。但我們如果注意到摩西的律法記載，在出埃及記12章，沒有行割禮的人是不能守逾越節的。以色列人離開埃及後，進行了一趟漫長的旅程。在地理上，我們知道這段旅程原本只需不到一個月的步行時間，但這一代以色列人卻走了40年而無法進入迦南地。最後，出埃及的那一代人都死在曠野，唯有迦勒和約書亞作為那一世代的代表進入了迦南地。而此時進入迦南地的以色列人，全是曠野出生的新一代，這一代人直到這時候進入迦南地才行過割禮，所以很可能他們在曠野中沒有守過逾越節。
這一代人第一次行了割禮。他們開始吃那地的土產，而嗎哪就此止住了。嚴格來說，從埃及出來以後，曠野的這40年仍然算是在埃及的延伸，尚未進入應許之地，應許尚未完成。因此，從埃及到迦南地之間的這40年，並不是回家，而是在旅途之中。
我們還看到一件奇妙的事情：上帝在曠野的40年中，供應以色列人嗎哪。而這裡有一個非常重要的象徵——亞伯拉罕的子孫終於回到了上帝的應許之地。對以色列人來說，他們回到了家鄉，回到了自己的地方。因此，上帝不再需要供應他們嗎哪，而是讓他們開始吃那地的土產。這是一個極其重要的象徵，代表著他們這時候真正地回家了。
3. 耶和華軍隊的元帥
在《約書亞記》第五章的這個場景中，我們看到一個非常深刻的屬靈意涵。當約書亞靠近耶利哥城，遇到這位拔刀相對的「人」時，他提出的問題是：
「你是幫助我們的呢？還是幫助我們敵人的？」
而對方的回答是：「都不是，我來是要做耶和華軍隊的元帥。」這個回答既清楚又讓人深思。它指出了幾個屬靈的真理：
上帝的主權超越人類的立場
當「耶和華軍隊的元帥」回答「都不是」時，意味著這場戰爭並不是以色列或迦南的戰爭，而是屬於上帝的戰爭。上帝不是簡單地站在某一方，而是超越了人類的立場和界線。
不是約書亞的戰爭，而是上帝的戰爭：
上帝早已宣告將迦南地賜給以色列人（參見《出埃及記》23:23），但真正的戰爭並非由以色列人主導，而是由上帝親自帶領和掌權。
上帝不受人類控制：
上帝不是某一方的私人保鏢，祂的計劃和旨意是至高無上的。我們需要順服祂，而不是試圖讓祂站在我們的陣營。
以色列的勝利並非出於自己的能力
這場戰爭的勝利完全依靠上帝的指引和介入，而不是約書亞或以色列人的策略或力量。這也提醒我們，所有的得勝都是出於上帝的恩典和權能。
約書亞的角色是順服，而非指揮：
當約書亞遇見耶和華軍隊的元帥後，他的第一反應是俯伏在地，表示完全的敬拜和順服。他意識到自己只是上帝計劃中的一個僕人，而不是掌控者。
上帝的計劃高過人類的計劃：
在接下來攻取耶利哥城的戰役中，我們看到的不是傳統的軍事策略，而是上帝給予的一個超自然的作戰方案（繞城七日，吹角城牆倒塌）。這完全彰顯了上帝的能力，而非人的智慧。
我們的生命應該站在上帝的一邊
當約書亞問「你是幫助我們的呢？還是幫助我們敵人的？」時，這是一個人性化的問題，我們也常常這樣問：「上帝，你站在我這邊嗎？」但真正的問題應該是：「我們是否站在上帝的一邊？」
上帝的軍隊只有一個目標：成就祂的旨意：
上帝的軍隊並不是為了支持某個特定群體，而是為了成就上帝的計劃。如果我們站在上帝的一邊，那麼我們就必然在得勝的一方。
敬拜和順服是我們的態度：
約書亞立刻俯伏在地，並且問了一個非常重要的問題：「我主有什麼話吩咐僕人？」這表明他完全接受上帝的主權，並願意順服祂的引導。
這段經文提醒我們，無論在生命的哪個階段，我們都應該時刻問自己：「我是否站在上帝的一邊？」而不是試圖讓上帝支持我們的計劃。因為只有順服上帝，才是真正的得勝之道。
感謝各位的聆聽，我們明天繼續分享約書亞記第六章，攻取耶利哥的精彩故事！
1When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived along the Mediterranean coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan River so the people of Israel could cross, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear because of them.
Israel Reestablishes Covenant Ceremonies
2At that time the Lord told Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise this second generation of Israelites.” 3So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the entire male population of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.
4Joshua had to circumcise them because all the men who were old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt had died in the wilderness. 5Those who left Egypt had all been circumcised, but none of those born after the Exodus, during the years in the wilderness, had been circumcised. 6The Israelites had traveled in the wilderness for forty years until all the men who were old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt had died. For they had disobeyed the Lord, and the Lord vowed he would not let them enter the land he had sworn to give us—a land flowing with milk and honey. 7So Joshua circumcised their sons—those who had grown up to take their fathers’ places—for they had not been circumcised on the way to the Promised Land. 8After all the males had been circumcised, they rested in the camp until they were healed.
9Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt.” So that place has been called Gilgal to this day.
10While the Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month. 11The very next day they began to eat unleavened bread and roasted grain harvested from the land. 12No manna appeared on the day they first ate from the crops of the land, and it was never seen again. So from that time on the Israelites ate from the crops of Canaan.
The Lord’s Commander Confronts Joshua
13When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?”
14“Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.”
At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?”
15The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did as he was told.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Peace be with you!
Today, we come to Joshua Chapter 5, a significant turning point in the story and a continuation of the events we discussed yesterday. This chapter contains three important themes that we will explore together:
1. Circumcision & the Passover
At the beginning of this chapter, we see God commanding Joshua to lead the Israelites in performing the rite of circumcision. In the Old Testament, the purpose of circumcision was not explicitly explained in detail, but we find numerous references to its significance throughout Scripture. It was a crucial covenantal sign for the Israelites.
In Genesis 17, God instructed Abraham that all males were to be circumcised on the eighth day after birth as a sign of the covenant.
In Leviticus 12:3, the law reiterated that circumcision should be performed on the eighth day for all male children.
Additionally, in Deuteronomy 10:16, it is written: "Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer," a message echoed in Jeremiah 4:4: "Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts."
The practice held such significance that King Saul chose death by his own sword over being killed by the uncircumcised Philistines. For the Israelites, circumcision was a mark of identity and covenant with God. Later, this became a source of contention in the early church when some insisted that Gentile Christians also undergo circumcision, a practice that the Apostle Paul argued was no longer necessary for salvation.
In Joshua’s time, the Israelites had not performed circumcision during their 40 years in the wilderness. Upon entering the Promised Land, this act symbolized their full obedience to God and their renewed covenant with Him. Following the circumcision, the Israelites celebrated the Passover, something that had not been recorded since Numbers 9.
This was also the first time in 40 years that they had offered sacrifices and kept the Passover. God declared, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you,” marking their transition from their wilderness journey to being a nation in the Promised Land.
2. Eating the Produce of the Land
After entering Canaan, the Israelites experienced several significant changes. One notable shift was their diet.
The Israelites began eating the produce of the land, and the manna that God had miraculously provided for 40 years ceased. This change was deeply symbolic:
The wilderness was an extension of their time in Egypt, a period of waiting and preparation.
Eating the land’s produce signified their arrival in the Promised Land and the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham.
God’s provision of manna for 40 years was a powerful demonstration of His faithfulness. However, the cessation of manna marked the end of their journey and their dependence on wilderness sustenance. Now, as they settled in the land of promise, they experienced God’s blessings in a new way.
This transition represents a profound truth: the Israelites had truly come home.
3. The Commander of the Lord’s Army
A deeply spiritual encounter occurs when Joshua nears Jericho. He meets a man with a drawn sword and asks, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
The man replies, “Neither. I have come as the commander of the army of the Lord.”
This response reveals several spiritual truths:
God’s Sovereignty Transcends Human Allegiances:The commander’s response, “Neither,” indicates that the battle is not Israel’s or Jericho’s but God’s. The Lord is not confined by human perspectives or loyalties.
It’s Not Joshua’s Battle but God’s:The victory in Canaan had already been declared by God in Exodus 23:23. The Israelites were not the main actors in this war; God was leading the charge.
God’s Plans Are Supreme:The Lord’s purposes are not dictated by human desires. Instead, we are called to align ourselves with His divine will.
Victory Belongs to God Alone:The upcoming battle against Jericho, with its unconventional strategy of marching and shouting, would highlight that the victory was entirely God’s doing.
Worship and Obedience Are Key:Joshua immediately bows in worship, recognizing the commander’s authority as divine. His question, “What message does my Lord have for His servant?” underscores his humility and readiness to follow God’s instructions.
This encounter teaches us a vital lesson: instead of asking God to support our plans, we should ask ourselves whether we are standing on God’s side. True victory comes not from our strength or strategies but from aligning ourselves with God’s will and trusting His guidance.
As we reflect on this chapter, let us ask ourselves:
Are we standing on God’s side?
Do we submit our plans to His will, or do we seek His endorsement for our own desires?
May we learn to trust in God’s sovereignty, follow His lead, and worship Him with humble hearts.
Thank you for joining today’s reading. Tomorrow, we will dive into the exciting story of Jericho’s fall in Chapter 6.
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