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The same principle is seen in Israel's attitude to Christ. At His first coming they
rejected Him; at His second coming, they shall look on Him Whom they pierced and
mourn for Him:--
"And unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto
salvation" (Heb. 9: 28).
Thus this "second time" of
Josh.5:
is typical of Israel's final entry into her
possessions.
We have already observed that when Joshua "pitched" the stones in Gilgal, the
Hebrew word qum (meaning "rising in resurrection") is used, so emphasizing the typical
teaching of the passage. We notice in the chapter now before us that the word translated
"were whole" is chayah, "to live", "to be made alive", "to revive": "They abode in their
places in the camp until they were whole" (Josh. 5: 8).
This word in one of its forms is nine times rendered "quicken" in Psa. 119: In other
forms it is translated "save alive" (Josh. 2: 13; 6: 25), and "restore" (II Kings 8: 1, 5,
where a dead body is restored to life). This further emphasizes the fact that Israel,
brought up from the depths of Jordan, set forth in type the believer in newness of life.
This, then, is the first principle that we may learn from the typical history of this typical
people.
The reproach of Egypt has now been rolled away. God's people are free, not only
from Egypt and its bondage, but from its reproach that clung to many even in the
wilderness. While that reproach of Egypt clung to them, they were even willing to follow
a captain back to their bondage (Num. 14: 4). But now they are ready to follow their
true Captain, Joshua, who is himself a type of the Lord, the Captain of our salvation
(Heb. 2: 10), Who leads many sons, not into Canaan, but to glory. Before the chapter
ends, this true Captain reveals Himself to the worshipping presence of Joshua
(Josh. 5: 13-15).
We have, therefore, in this chapter, four great principles that underlie all true success
and victory:--
(1)
The repudiation of the flesh . . . . .
CIRCUMCISION (5: 9).
(2)
The blood of Christ . . . . .
PASSOVER (5: 10).
(3)
The Word of God . . . . .
FOOD (5: 11, 12).
(4)
Christ as Lord . . . . .
THE CAPTAIN OF THE LORD'S HOST
(5: 13-15).
There was only one Passover--which took place in Egypt. All others have been
memorial feasts looking back to that wonderful night, and celebrating the covenant that
the Lord had made (Exod. 6: 3-8; Jer. 31: 31, 32). The first memorial passover feast
was kept by Israel under Moses in the wilderness of Sinai (Num. 9: 1, 2). The second
was observed under Joshua after the circumcision at Gilgal. The first baptism of Israel
was unto Moses at the Red Sea; the second was in the waters of Jordan. The first