Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15)
This past week, we reflected upon the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. This devotional will provide an overview of the events leading up to the crossing over Jordan into the land of their inheritance. I believe we can discover some interesting parallels between these two momentous events. Here is a brief review of what was previously covered.
1) Be Courageous and Fear Not (Joshua 1:9)
2) Rahab – The Gospel to the Gentiles (Joshua 2)
3) Significance of the Jordan Crossing (Joshua 3 – 4)
In our fourth and final instalment of the Joshua Generation, we will examine the preparation and lead-up to the Fall of Jericho, which allowed Israel to enter into their inheritance. This provides a needed blueprint for how we can take kingdoms for our Lord today.
A Picture of the Two Adams
Remember our opening verse in part three of our series? The waters of the Jordan River rolled back to a city called Adam (Joshua 3:16). Original sin in man resulted from Adam’s disobedience to the Word of God. Sin began in Adam, and it is through Adam that the consequence of sin has touched us all.
Christ, as the second or last Adam, took all our sin upon Himself when He died on the Cross.
For as by one man’s (Adam) disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s (Jesus) obedience many will be made righteous (Romans 5:19).
The Crossing over the Jordan River by Israel, under Joshua’s leadership, is a picture of what Jesus would later fulfil at the Cross as the second Adam. This is why it is important to note some of the events during this period and discover helpful parallels for our day.
A Fresh Consecration-Circumcision
As covered in our previous segment, Before crossing the Jordan River, Joshua, the priests, and the people had to be circumcised. This event, if understood, will enhance our understanding of all that Jesus accomplished at the Cross.
The message of circumcision is not a prioritised subject in much of today’s church. What does circumcision accomplish in the life of a believer? Before leading Israel over the Jordan, Joshua had an insightful encounter with the Lord. I feel it is an encounter the Lord desires to have with his church in this critical hour. Are we willing to consecrate ourselves afresh to the Lord? Are we willing for the Lord to apply the sword to the rooted issues in our own hearts? What did this circumcision look like to Joshua, and how can we provide an application to our lives?
The Sword of Circumcision
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” (Joshua 5:13)
Who was that man with the Sword? Joshua was not sure at first but soon discovered that he was in the presence of the Lord Himself. He removed his shoes, for he understood that he was on Holy Ground, (verse 15), much like what Moses experienced at the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:5). Joshua, like Moses, was in the presence of the Holy God. Joshua saw the Lord with a Sword in His hand. What is the message, and what does this signify?
Before Joshua could wield the Sword of the Lord in the land of their inheritance against God’s enemies, he first had to yield to the Sword of Circumcision in his own life. He had to allow the rooted issues of sin to be addressed in his life so that he could be effective as the leader of God’s people in the land of their inheritance.
God has Provided us a Sword of Circumcision
We know that God has equipped us with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, as part of our spiritual armour (Ephesians 6:17). To be effective with this Sword, we must assume the same posture that Joshua took when he encountered the Lord. We must be willing to first yield to the Sword (The Word of God) in our own lives. The Apostle Paul puts it best in his letter to the Hebrews.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Dear brother and sister in Christ, let us be like Joshua and choose to consecrate ourselves afresh to our Holy God. This is not a simple devotional but a message I feel the Lord is speaking in this hour. Spend time in God’s Word, learn, love, embrace, and apply it where needed. The Sword of the Spirit provides a key for the new generation of Joshua-type leaders to emerge as they make their way over Jordan while in the presence of a Holy God.
Monday: 1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Tuesday: Psalm 149:6
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand,
Wednesday: Matthew 7:5
Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Thursday: 2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Friday: Isaiah 35:8
A highway shall be there, and a road,
And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.
The unclean shall not pass over it,
But it shall be for others.
Whoever walks the road, although a fool,
Shall not go astray.
Saturday: Joshua 6:20
So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
Sunday: Isaiah 6:5
So I said:
“Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The LORD of hosts.”
All scriptures are quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV).
By Pastor Timothy O’Connell
