Getting God on Your Side (Joshua 5: 1-15)

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Welcome to today’s episode of The Bible Project Daily Podcast! In this episode, we are exploring what it means to truly have God on your side. Many of us desire a deeper relationship with God, but how do we position ourselves to experience His power and presence in our lives?

As we examine Joshua’s journey, we’ll uncover key spiritual principles that teach us how to align ourselves with God’s will, experience personal renewal, and prepare our hearts before stepping into the battles of life.

Join us as we explore:

• How Israel’s acts of obedience (circumcision and Passover) prepared them for victory.
• Why spiritual preparation comes before success.
• What Joshua’s encounter with the Commander of the Lord’s Army reveals about true surrender.
• How we can ensure we are on God’s side, rather than simply expecting Him to be on ours.

Let’s journey together through this powerful passage and discover how obedience, surrender, and worship position us to walk in God’s strength and experience His guidance in our lives.

Episode Notes:

Key Themes in Joshua 5:

1. The Fear of the Enemy (Joshua 5:1)
2. Renewing the Covenant through Circumcision (Joshua 5:2-9)
3. Observing the Passover (Joshua 5:10-12)
4. Joshua’s Encounter with the Commander of the Lord’s Army (Joshua 5:13-15)

Practical Takeaways:

• Spiritual preparation comes before victory. 
• Obedience leads to greater revelation. 
• God doesn’t take sides—He takes over. 
• Surrender and worship are the right responses.

Reflection Questions:

1. Is there an area in your life where you need to renew your commitment to God?
2. Are you seeking God’s blessing for your plans, or are you submitting to His plans?
3. How can you practice greater obedience and surrender in your daily walk with God?
4. Have you paused to remember and celebrate God’s past faithfulness before moving forward?

Final Thoughts:

Joshua 5 teaches us a powerful lesson: Before we can experience victory, we must first be spiritually prepared. God’s presence and power are available to those who obey Him fully, surrender completely, and worship Him wholeheartedly.

May this episode encourage

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Transcript

Getting God on Your Side (Joshua 5:1-15)

 Transcript.

Let me ask you a question: Do you want to experience God in a real and personal way? I don’t mean simply knowing about Him, I mean knowing Him intimately, sensing His presence, understanding His ways, and seeing His power at work in your life.

Think of someone you admire spiritually. Maybe it’s a pastor, a mentor, or a fellow believer who seems to walk closely with the Lord. It seems to you that when they speak, God moves. When they pray, things happen. Their faith is real, alive, and powerful. It’s clear that God is with them.

Would you like that to be true of you? Would you like to live with such confidence in God’s presence that it’s as if you and He sit down for a intimate chat?

That desire is the first step.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). If you have that hunger—if you long for a deeper relationship with God—you are already on the right path.

But here’s the real question: How do you get there? How do you position yourself so that you can confidently say, God is on my side?

In Joshua 5, we find Joshua exemplifying this kind of relationship with the Lord.

Joshua had already seen God do incredible things—parting the Jordan, providing victory over enemies—but in this chapter, we get a glimpse into his personal walk with God. And what we see in his life I believe holds the key to experiencing God’s power in our own.

Joshua 5:1 tells us what was happening next in the land of Canaan:

"Now when 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 before the sons of Israel until they had crossed, their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel."

Put yourself in the shoes of the Canaanites. They had always believed they were safe. Their cities were fortified, their armies were strong, and, most importantly, they had the Jordan River as a natural barrier—especially during flood season. No invading army had ever successfully crossed into Canaan from the east before.

But then, the rumors began to spread.

They had heard how Israel’s God dried up the Red Sea to deliver them from Egypt. They had heard about the miraculous victories over the kings of the east. And now, they heard that the Jordan itself had dried up—that Israel had crossed over on dry ground and was now standing at their doorstep.

Panic probably set in. Their confidence crumbled. Their courage disappeared.

If you were in Joshua’s position—a military leader with a divine mandate to conquer the land—what would you do next?

The logical thing to think would be to attack immediately. The enemy was scared, their morale was shattered, and Israel had the momentum. It was the perfect time to strike. But that’s not what Joshua did.

Instead, he did something that, from a human standpoint, made absolutely no sense. But in his decision, we find the key to getting God on our side.

At first glance, what happens in Joshua 5 seems completely illogical.

In verse 1, we’re told that the hearts of the Canaanite kings had melted with fear. The enemy was terrified. From a military standpoint, this was the perfect time to strike. Any general would have seized the opportunity to advance while the enemy was weak. But instead of ordering an attack, God commanded something entirely different.

In verses 2-3, God tells Joshua:

"Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time."

And Joshua obeyed. He circumcised all the men of Israel at a place later named Gilgal (which means “rolled away”) to mark this significant event.

This was not a minor procedure. Circumcision—the cutting away of the foreskin—was the physical sign of Israel’s covenant with God. It seems that for the last 40 years; while wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites had neglected this command. Now, on the threshold of the Promised Land, God required them to renew their covenant before they could move forward.

Why Was This Necessary? Verses 4-7, we’re given the reason:

4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. 6 The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way.

(Joshua 5: 4-7)

The older generation—those who had been circumcised in Egypt—had died in the wilderness because of their disobedience.

The new generation, born during the 40 years of wandering, had not been circumcised. If they were to inherit the land and experience victory, they needed to renew their commitment to God.

This was more than just a physical act; it was a spiritual declaration. Circumcision represented their identity as God’s people.

The results of this act are found in verses 8-9:

8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.

(Joshua 5: 8-9)

They remained in camp until they healed. – This meant that for several days, they were completely vulnerable to attack. Yet, they trusted in God's protection.

Remember the Egyptians had mocked Israel, saying that their God had abandoned them to die in the wilderness. But now, they had finally entered the Promised Land, proving that God had been faithful all along.

This act of obedience was a turning point. The people had crossed over geographically, but now they needed to cross over spiritually.

Circumcision was first instituted in Genesis 17 as a sign of God’s covenant with Abraham. It symbolized God’s promise to give Abraham descendants and the land of Canaan. A call to holiness, separating God's people from the surrounding nations. The need for a changed heart, as seen in Deuteronomy 10:16: “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.”

The New Testament expands on this idea. In Colossians 2:11-12, Paul says:

"In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God."

In other words, for Old Testament Israel, circumcision was the outward sign of belonging to God.

For New Testament believers, spiritual circumcision happens when we trust in Christ—our old sinful nature is cut away, and we are made new. And baptism serves as the outward sign of this inward transformation.

This passage teaches us that before we can experience God’s power and victory, we must first experience personal renewal and obedience.

Israel could not move forward in conquest until they first consecrated themselves to God. Likewise, we cannot move forward spiritually if we are holding onto disobedience, compromise, or neglecting our commitment to the Lord.

So let me ask: Is there an area in your life where you need to renew your covenant with God? Are you willing to trust Him, even when obedience makes you feel vulnerable? Have you fully embraced your identity in Christ, allowing Him to cut away anything that hinders your walk with Him?

Israel's first step in the Promised Land was not a military step forward it was an step towards the heart of God an act of surrender to God. And that surrender prepared them for the victories ahead.

In Joshua the next verses, we read:

"So, the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho." 11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.

(Joshua 5: 10-12)

This is remarkable. The Canaanites are terrified. The enemy’s morale is shattered. From a strategic standpoint, this is the perfect time to attack. But instead of launching an offensive, Israel pauses to celebrate the Passover.

Just as they had observed circumcision as a sign of their covenant with God, now they observe Passover, another key covenantal act.

Passover for them was more than just a religious festival. It was a reminder of who they were and who God was.

It commemorated their deliverance from Egypt. It reminded them of God’s power to save and it reinforced their identity as God’s chosen people.

For 40 years, while wandering in the wilderness, they had not kept the Passover. Now, as they stood on the threshold of battle, God called them to remember His faithfulness before moving forward.

In 1 Corinthians 5:7, Paul explains the new covenant perspective for us:

"For indeed, Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us."

Just as Israel was spared from death in Egypt by the blood of the lamb, we are saved from eternal death by the blood of Jesus Christ.

The Israelites applied the blood of the lamb to their doorposts, we apply the blood of Christ to our hearts by faith.

The death angel passed over them, eternal judgment passes over us.

And just as the Israelites were commanded to remember the Passover, we are commanded to remember Christ’s sacrifice for us.

In Luke 22:19, Jesus said: "Do this in remembrance of Me." The Lord’s Supper is our New Testament memorial, just as Passover was Israel’s Old Testament memorial.

Joshua understood something critical: Spiritual preparation is more important than military strategy. Before they fought the battle, before they claimed the land, they needed to renew their commitment to God, and the same is true for us.

We often want to rush ahead and fight our battles. We want to solve problems, fix situations, and get things done. But God’s way is different. He calls us to pause, to prepare our hearts, and to renew our dependence on Him.

So let me ask you are you remembering what God has done for you? Are you taking time to renew your commitment to Him before moving forward? Are you regularly participating in the Lord’s Supper as a way of remembering Christ’s sacrifice?

The same is true for us today. Before we face life’s battles, we must first prepare our hearts before the Lord.

In Joshua 5:10-12, we see Israel do two significant things before they engage in battle:

They observed the Passover.

They ate the produce of the land.

The manna ceased, and they began to live off the land.

At first glance, these actions might seem insignificant. After all, the enemy is demoralized, their morale is broken, and Israel has a strategic advantage. But instead of rushing into battle, Joshua pauses. Before Israel can claim the land, they must first consecrate themselves to the Lord.

For 40 years, Israel had wandered in the wilderness. Now, as they stood on the edge of the Promised Land, they stopped to remember how they got there—not by their own strength, but by the power of God.

The same principle applies to us. Before we move forward in life—before we take on new challenges—we need to pause and remember who God is and what He has done for us.

Joshua 5:10 notes that Israel kept the Passover at twilight. This is significant because, in the New Testament, we see the Lord’s Supper being observed in the evening as well.

In Acts 20:7, we read:

"Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight."

The early church gathered regularly to observe the Lord’s Supper. It wasn’t just a tradition—it was a sacred act of remembering Christ’s sacrifice.

Do we have that same attitude today?

Do we treat the Lord’s Table/Communuion as a precious time of reflection and renewal? Or do we see it as just another routine?

For some, the Lord’s Supper is a time to focus on the grace of God. For others, it seems to become a duty, something to endure rather than embraced. But Scripture makes it clear: God wants us to remember.

Joshua 5:11-12 tells us that after celebrating Passover, Israel ate the produce of the land For 40 years, God had provided manna, but now they were to live off the land. But before they consumed the harvest, they offered the first fruits to the Lord.

Leviticus 23:10-14 outlined this command for them:

"When you come into the land which I give you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest."

This offering was a way of acknowledging that everything comes from God. The principle is still true today:

Do we honor the Lord with our first and best?

Do we give God our time, talents, and resources, or do we keep it all for ourselves?

It doesn’t matter how much or how little we have—we all have something to give.

Joshua’s obedience is a model for us.

Instead of rushing into battle, Joshua led the people in obedience to God’s commands. They practiced circumcision—renewing their covenant. They observed the Passover—remembering God’s deliverance. They offered the first fruits—acknowledging God’s provision.

Joshua understood something we often forget and that is that spiritual preparation comes before victory.

Before we charge ahead in our own strength, we must first take time to align ourselves with God. We must obey His Word, trust His timing, and honor Him in all we do. That is the foundation for true success.

Up to this point in Joshua 5, we have seen the Israelites obey God in three key areas:

1.   They practiced circumcision—renewing their covenant with God.

2.   They observed the Passover—remembering God's deliverance.

3.   They ate the produce of the land—symbolizing their transition into God’s provision in Canaan.

Now, in verses 13-15, something extraordinary happens. Joshua has a direct encounter with God Himself, and the commander of the Lord’s Army appears

"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, ‘Are you for us or for our adversaries?’ So, He said, ‘No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord, I have now come.’"

(Joshua 5:13-14)

This is a defining moment for Joshua. He has been faithfully obeying God, preparing the people for battle, and now, as he stands near Jericho, he looks up and sees a man with a drawn sword.

Joshua’s instinct is that of a warrior. He asks, “Are you for us or against us?”

The response is both surprising and profound:

“No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord, I have now come.”

Joshua wants to know whose side this warrior is on, but the real question is: Is Joshua on God’s side?

Who Is This Commander?

Many Bible scholars believe that this is a ‘Christophany’,  pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. There are several reasons for this:

Firstly, He accepts worship.

When Joshua falls on his face in worship, the Commander does not rebuke him. If this were merely an angel, he would have refused worship—as we see angels do elsewhere in Scripture (Revelation 19:10).

He gives the same command that God gave Moses at the burning bush.

“Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy.” (Joshua 5:15)

This is identical to what God said to Moses in Exodus 3:5. The Hebrew text in the next chapter confirms this is Jehovah. Remember there is no chapter break in the original text. In Joshua 6:2, the passage continues, “And the Lord said to Joshua…”

The word Lord here is Yahweh (Jehovah), confirming that this Commander is divine. All of this leads us to conclude that Joshua is standing face to face with God Himself—likely a Christophany, an appearance of Jesus before His incarnation.

Notice when this encounter happens:

There is a principle we see throughout Scripture. Obedience leads to greater revelation. Jesus affirmed this himself in John 14:21:

"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

The key to experiencing more of God’s presence is not just knowledge—it’s obedience.

Do you want to know God more deeply?

Do you want to experience His power in your life?

Do you want to hear His voice and sense His guidance?

Then obey Him. Walk in His ways. Do what He has commanded in His Word.

The real question is are you on God's side?

Joshua asked the Commander, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?”

The response? “No.” This wasn’t about whether God was on Joshua’s side. The real question was: Is Joshua on God’s side?

Too often, we approach life the wrong way:

We ask God to bless our plans rather than seeking His plan. We try to fit God into our agenda rather than submitting to His authority. We want God to endorse us, rather than surrendering fully to Him. But God does not take sides—He takes over.

The real question in our lives is not whether God is on our side, but whether we are on His.

Joshua’s response was immediate:

"Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, and said to Him, ‘What does my Lord say to His servant?’"

(Joshua 5:14)

That’s the right response: Surrender. Submission. Worship.

If you desire a deeper relationship with God, this chapter today gives us a clear pattern:

Obey God completely. (Joshua circumcised the men, observed Passover, and followed God's instructions.)

Recognize that God is in control. (Joshua learned that it was not about God being on his side, but about him being on God’s side.)

Bow in worship and surrender. (Joshua fell on his face before God.)

Would you like to experience more of God’s presence in your life?

Then follow Joshua’s example: Obey Him. Submit to Him. Worship Him. Only then will you truly know what it means to have God on your side.

Joshua stood near Jericho, the first great city standing between Israel and the Promised Land. He had followed the Lord’s commands, preparing the people through circumcision, observing the Passover, and offering their first fruits. Now, with the Jordan behind them and Jericho before them, everything pointed to one conclusion—it was time to fight.

It wasn’t a matter of whether God was on Israel’s side—it was a matter of whether Joshua was on God’s side.

Everything in this passage points to one central truth: God reveals Himself to those who obey Him.

At every step, they obeyed before they fought, and it was in that place of obedience that God appeared.

Joshua may have been a seasoned leader, but he knew that human strength alone would not win this battle. The Canaanites had walled cities, superior weapons, and years of experience in war. Israel had none of that. What they had was God.

And with God, they didn’t need battering rams or siege engines. In the days to come, those mighty walls of Jericho would fall—not because of Israel’s strength, but because of God’s power.

The same principle applies to us. Jesus, in Matthew 28, gave His disciples a seemingly impossible mission—to go into all the world and make disciples. Yet He ended with this promise:

"And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

His presence is tied to our obedience. When we walk in His will, we walk in His strength.

Many people want God’s power in their lives, but they aren’t willing to walk in obedience. They long for His presence in their trials but neglect Him in their daily decisions. They want His help in the crisis but ignore His commands in the ordinary.

Could it be that the reason you aren’t experiencing God’s power is because you aren’t fully obeying His Word?

God does not bless partial obedience. He does not reveal Himself to those who pick and choose which parts of His Word to follow. He shows Himself to those who submit to Him completely.

God wasn’t there to take sides. He was there to take over.

That is the real question. Not “Is God on my side?” but “Am I on His?” 

If you want His presence, if you want His power, if you want to know Him in a deeper way, then align yourself with His will. Obey Him fully. Surrender completely. And you will see what only God can do.