Joshua 4:24 (ESV) - …so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

Build a lifestyle of talking about God and His Word.

Deuteronomy 6:10–13 (ESV) - “And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, 11and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, 12then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 13It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.

Joshua 4:14 (ESV) - On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.

God is always true to his character and his promises.

Trust God’s character and promises and follow Him in the moment.

Joshua 5:1 (ESV) - As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.

Deuteronomy 1:28 (ESV) - Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.” ’

How often we let the things of life be greater to us than the power of God.

Is your heart melting as you ponder the spiritual (cultural) battles of our world?

Your life is not about you, it’s about Christ in you.

Don’t melt, stand firm!

Joshua 5:2–7 (ESV) - At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.” 3So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. 4And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt. 5Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised. 6For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord; the Lord swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.

Galatians 6:15 (ESV) - For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Colossians 2:11–15 (ESV) - In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Joshua 5:8-9 (ESV) - When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed. 9And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.

Joshua 5:10–12 (ESV) – While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho. 11And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

Discussion Questions - this week's questions explore three primary topics of the text.

1. Circumcision. What did it mean? Why was it important Israel performed the rite at this time? How did it help prepare them for their battles? What does circumcision of the heart (Colossians 2:11-15) mean for Christians and why is it important for the battles we face?

2. Passover. What did it mean? Why was it important at this point? How did it help prepare them? What are our Passover celebrations and why are they important for the battles we face?

3. Grain instead of manna. Why was the ceasing of manna significant for Israel? Did God stop providing for Israel when the manna stopped? Why is this question important? Read John 6:22-36. What was Jesus teaching about himself?

4. What does Joshua 5:1-12 teach you about God’s nature and character? How are these aspects of Him personally relevant to you?