S7 || Is Obedience Before or After Salvation? || Joshua 5:1-15 || Session 7 || Verse by Verse Bible Study

What spiritual preparations must happen before conquering the giants in our lives? Joshua 5 reveals the crucial steps Israel took before facing Jericho—steps that transform our understanding of how God prepares us for spiritual battles today.

Fresh from crossing the Jordan River, Israel stands on promised land soil for the first time. But rather than immediately attacking Jericho, God commands them to pause for three essential spiritual preparations. First, all males must be circumcised—a covenant renewal that had been neglected during forty years of wilderness wandering. This powerful act symbolizes how God doesn't require us to clean up our lives before salvation, but once we cross into relationship with Him, He begins removing what hinders our spiritual growth.

The chapter draws fascinating parallels between Old Testament circumcision and New Testament baptism. Both serve as outward symbols of inward transformation, with the apostle Paul later expanding this concept to describe the "circumcision of the heart" that truly marks God's people. Your understanding of these connections will deepen your appreciation for how God consistently points to Christ throughout scripture.

Next, Israel celebrates Passover—their first feast in the Promised Land. As they eat the produce of Canaan, the manna that sustained them for forty years ceases. This transition teaches us how God provides differently in different seasons of our spiritual journey. Sometimes He sustains us supernaturally; other times He blesses the fruit of our labors.

The episode culminates with Joshua's stunning encounter with "the commander of the Lord's army"—a mysterious figure with drawn sword who accepts worship and declares the ground holy. The evidence points to this being a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Himself, challenging our assumptions about when Jesus first appears in scripture. This theophany reminds us that the most important question isn't whether God is on our side, but whether we're on His.

What battles await you today? Before rushing into conflict, consider the spiritual preparations God might be calling you to make. Joshua 5 reminds us that covenant renewal, grateful remembrance, and submission to divine leadership must precede our greatest victories.

Questions in this session:

• Do we get clean before or after salvation?
• When we get right with God, how much use is our flesh? 
• Who is the only person who can rightfully accept worship?
• What are the signs of the covenants in the OT vs the NT? 

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