Joshua 5

Circumcision, a rather delicate procedure, requires an equally delicate approach in any written piece not attempting to shock or offend. Suffice to say that most people who undergo this procedure nowadays do so as infants and thus have no memory (or at least I hope not) of the ordeal. However, the Israelite men males of every age had no choice in the matter--once they reached Gilgal, out came the flint knives. Verse 8 will make any male cringe: "And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in the camp until they were healed." Such was the pain that they couldn't even travel (a pain that Jacob's sons ruthlessly took advantage of back in Genesis 34.)

In verse 12, we learn that the manna, which has sustained the Israelites for more than 40 years, finally stops falling. The Israelites have finally reached the home promised to them and can partake in the luscious produce of the land. Just imagine the kids who had grown up the wilderness and known nothing but manna, quail, and maybe the occasional sacrificial meat finally having a whole smorgasbord of fruits, vegetables, and grains opened up to them. The closest personal experience I can compare this to is when I was first introduced to the delectable delights of shrimp, baby back ribs, and tiramisu as a teenager. I had no idea what I'd been missing.

As the Israelites prepare to attack Jericho, Joshua, in the act of reconnoitering the city, encounters the commander of the army of the Lord. Even though the commander's sword is drawn (verse 13), Joshua is bold enough to go up to the man and ask him whose side he is on. Now, I imagine Joshua was prudent enough not to march right up the the man's face; he probably kept himself out of range of the sword. Still, Joshua's faith in God is such that he knows that God will protect him.

The commander of the Lord says he is neither for Joshua nor his enemies (verse 14). Although God chose the Israelites as His people and appoints certain people to do various aspects of His work, God is not irrevocably on any humans' side. Instead, we humans choose whether or not we want to follow God and develop our relationship with Him. When Joshua deferentially decides to follow, the commander of the Lord tells Joshua to remove his sandals (verse 15)--an action that echoes the directive given to Moses at the burning bush and that also heralds equally awesome acts to come.