Leading up to the monumental encounter at Jericho, God told Joshua to prepare His people for victory, not by military strength, but by spiritual obedience. Before a single sword was raised or a trumpet blown, the Lord prepared Israel not with weapons, but with an old forgotten covenant.
At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” – Joshua 5:2
The covenant of circumcision began with Abraham and his son Ishmael as a sign of the everlasting covenant between God and his chosen people (Genesis 17). It was a physical mark of belonging, obedience, and identity, meant to set the descendants of Abraham apart. However, during the long years of wandering in the wilderness, this covenant practice was neglected by the generation born during that time.
Now, as Israel stands on the threshold of the Promised Land, about to face Jericho, God commands Joshua to renew the covenant through circumcision. This act of obedience at Gilgal was not just preparation for battle, but a spiritual realignment, ensuring that their inheritance began not with conquest, but with consecration.
The Battle Is Already Won
As news spread of the miraculous parting of the Jordan River, terror seized the hearts of the Canaanite kings. This was no ordinary migration—it was a God-ordained conquest. God had gone before His people, preparing the psychological ground for their victory. The fear of the nations was not caused by Israel’s might, but by their enemies recognising God’s unmistakable presence with them. This fear served not only to weaken Israel’s enemies but also to strengthen Israel’s confidence in the Lord’s faithfulness.
Before the nation could march toward Jericho, God halted them at Gilgal. For forty years, the new generation born in the wilderness had not been circumcised. Now, the Lord commanded Joshua to restore this covenant sign for the next generation who were about to embark on a closer journey with God. Circumcision marked them as God’s chosen people, set apart from the nations.
Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you. – Joshua 5:9 (NIV)
The shame of slavery, the failure at Kadesh Barnea, and the decades of wandering were now lifted. A fresh identity was conferred—not just freed slaves, but consecrated heirs of the promise. Gilgal, meaning rolled away, became a place of renewal, not just geographically but spiritually.
On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. – Joshua 5:10-11 (NIV)
The supernatural provision of manna ceased. What had sustained them for forty years ended, not as abandonment, but as a sign of growth and transition. God was still providing—only now through the land He had promised. They no longer needed the food of wandering; they could now reap the harvest of promise.
Manna was God’s temporary provision—like spiritual travel food—meant to sustain the Israelites during their wilderness journey. It met their needs when they had no means to farm, but it wasn’t meant to last forever. Once they entered the Promised Land, they were no longer wanderers but settlers, ready to cultivate and enjoy the land’s bounty. Continuing to rely on manna would have kept them passive and stuck in survival mode. Just as we switch from ready-made meals while traveling to full home-cooked food once settled, the Israelites’ diet evolved. Manna served a journey; the harvest served a destiny.
anna in our lives today symbolizes God’s miraculous provision during seasons of need and uncertainty. But as we transition into more stable routines, we often replace that divine dependence with our own systems and expectations. We may reduce God’s promises to clichés and feel disappointed when life doesn’t match our ideals. The real risk isn’t just losing the manna—it’s failing to adapt, becoming complacent or entitled. Like the Israelites, we may miss the shift: God’s provision may no longer fall from above, but now it grows from within us as His seeds are planted in our hearts.
The Mysterious Warrior
As Joshua neared Jericho, perhaps contemplating strategies, he encountered a man with a drawn sword. Joshua asked if he was for Israel or their enemies but the answer was not Joshua was ecpecting.
Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” Joshua 5:13-14
Joshua expected the commander of the Lord’s army to be “on Israel’s side,” but the angel made it clear—he stands only for God’s side. Joshua saw the warrior angel with sword drawn, just like the Angel of the Lord who stood in Balaam’s way, ready to strike. But unlike Balaam, who was blind to the angel because he was walking in disobedience, Joshua saw the angel because he was walking in obedience. Balaam was going for his own gain—to meet the king of Moab—while Joshua was going to Jericho to fulfill God’s purpose.
Often, we miss God’s leading not because He’s silent, but because our hearts are tuned to something else. When we step outside His will, the enemy works to blind us—clouding our judgment and pulling us away from God’s path. Just like Judas, who didn’t grasp the weight of his actions until it was too late, we can also be caught in deception. We are folled by satan, who emboldens our rebellion, but only for a moment.
Once the damage is done, he leaves us to face guilt and shame alone—distanced from God and uncertain how we got there. When our desires drift from His truth, even clear direction can sound like static. But the good news is, no matter how far we’ve wandered, His voice still calls—waiting for us to tune back in.
The Holy Land
The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. – Joshua 5:15 (NIV)
At the cusp of Egypt, Moses was met by God. At the cusp of Jericho, Joshua was met by God. Both were standing at critical moments—Moses about to lead Israel out of bondage, and Joshua about to lead them into promise. And in both cases, before they could move forward, God dealt with a matter of the covenant.
Moses had neglected to circumcise his son, and as he set out for Egypt, God confronted him so seriously that his life was at risk. Only after Zipporah quickly circumcised their son was Moses spared. Similarly, before entering Jericho, Joshua led Israel in renewing the covenant through circumcision—an act that had been ignored through the years in the wilderness. That obedience marked a fresh beginning.
Both leaders encountered God just before stepping into His mighty plans. Yet God didn’t first speak of signs or victories—He addressed holiness and obedience. The ground where they stood became holy, not because of the leaders or the geography, but because of God’s presence. When God is there, that place becomes holy ground. We are called to honor it—not as a landmark to be idolized, but as a reminder of reverence and surrender.
Joshua’s act of worship, like Moses removing his sandals, showed that he recognized God was present. And just like God gave Moses instructions at the burning bush, He gave Joshua instructions for the battle ahead. The covenant renewed at Gilgal echoed what happened in Moses’ day—a full-circle moment, marking both the beginning and end of a journey through obedience, encounter, and purpose.
Discussion Questions
- Why did God insist on circumcision before battle?
- Why did the manna stop when the Israelites began eating from the land?
- How do we respond when God’s provision shifts in our lives?
- Why do we miss God’s voice in our lives?
Map of the River Jordan
The Jordan Valley 
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