Historical Books Joshua Chapter 5

HISTORICAL BOOKS

 JOSHUA 

CHAPTER 

5

1. When all the kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites by the sea heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted, and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the Israelites.

(Historical Books Chapter 5 verse 1)

Oh God does it have to be works of miracles and great wonders such as natural phenomenon which You use to pass on Your message in order to stimulate and convince us to believe in You. Do we need to witness with our own eyes or act on hearsay! If this was the truth our faith is based on the sand and is the fruit of fear more than faith in action. I pray oh God that when put to the test, my faith will be convincing if not solid, for as a human I am still weak.

2. At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites a second time."

(Historical Books Chapter 5 verse 2)


During different moments of our lives oh God You give us different messages. This year 2015 You are asking us to have mercy. As much as You have mercy on us, You wish us to have mercy both on ourselves and more on others.


3. So Joshua made flint knives, and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath-haaraloth. 4. This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the warriors, had died during the journey through the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt. 5. Although all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people born on the journey through the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised. 6. For the Israelites traveled forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the warriors who came out of Egypt, perished, not having listened to the voice of the LORD. To them the LORD swore that he would not let them see the land that he had sworn to their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7. So 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.

(Historical Books Chapter 5 verses 3 to 7)


In order to keep the flame of faith in You burning You told Joshua to circumcise, which is equivalent to our baptism the new entrants among the people, Your body of the Old Testament. However as the new body of the New Testament anointed by the Holy Spirit, we also need a new evangelization. We need to reach those new members of the Church as a whole and help keep burning the flame of faith in them, because through the course of time, their ancestors may have not passed on the faith, and the Spirit may not be that present and active in them.


8. When the circumcising of all the nation was done, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.

(Historical Books Chapter 5 verse 8)


As in the case of the chosen people of God, while we are in a state of healing that can be emotional and even spiritual apart from the physical we are not to embark on hasty projects such as a change of job or embark on a new relationship at a point when we are still grieving over the hurts that we incurred from our previous one, or are still mourning over the loss of our beloved one as in the case of the death of a wife, husband or significant other. This interim period of waiting is more than healthy, because during this time that we can invest in prayer, we will be prepared to move on and make the necessary decisions that determine our future lives both on earth and in heaven.


9. The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt." And so that place is called Gilgal to this day.

(Historical Books Chapter 5 verse 9)


Oh god my Father I thank You for not holding against us our sins. As in the case of Egypt and Your chosen people and the corruption that they experienced while being exposed to false gods, You are also able to cleanse the world from the culture of death and sin that we are experiencing Amen.


10. While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho.

(Historical Books Chapter 5 verse 10)


Although Your people were in a state of war with the people of Jericho, they did not neglect the celebration of the Passover, because it is from You oh God from whom we find our strength and power to move on in life. During the Christmas season if we do not stop to reflect on You and the greatest event of all time, when You decided to save us by becoming human, all the gifts and Christmas dinners and celebrations are of no value, for instead of drawing us to You they discourage us and push us on to a worldly road based on the pleasure of the body and sensual gratification as in satisfying our pleasure by eating and drinking only.


11. On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12. The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.

(Historical Books  Chapter 5 verses 11 to 12)


Oh God this was indeed a historical day for Your people. A new chapter had began for them, for they had now entered their promised land and began reaping the produce that had long since been promised to them by You by means of Abraham and the rest of his descendants meaning the patriarchs. Oh God as this important day had been fulfilled for Your people, one day we shall also be reunited in our promised land in heaven with You. On reflecting our promised land can also mean the goal that we had long been waiting for, after a long time of tribulation in Egypt that could mean a period of trouble and pain over some particular issue such as a loss of a family member, or even a career, or worse our relationship with You.


13. Once when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing before him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you one of us, or one of our adversaries?"

(Historical Books Chapter 5 verse 13)


Oh God I thank You for all the support that You give me, even though at times I also need to question if the advice given is coming from You or from the evil one, who is also able to manifest itself by means of humans under the disguise of friendship. I pray oh God that during such circumstances You give me the inquisitive spirit to help me discern the content of the message and if this is according to Your holy will as in the case of Joshua.


14. He replied, "Neither; but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and he said to him, "What do you command your servant, my lord?" 15. The commander of the army of the LORD said to Joshua, "Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so.

(Historical Books Chapter 5 verses 14 to 15)


During times of crisis oh God You send us people in Your name who encourage us and give us the encouragement to move on in life. As in the case of Joshua You sent this angel who manifested Your presence and spoke to Joshua and blessed him. I God I also offer You my challenges and tribulations and pray that You always be the commander of my army. May I always be a soldier of Your army and act according to Your Instructions as written in Your Word Amen.


I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:


Oh God I pray that we always obey Your will and walk according to Your ways and not according to the ways of the world. May we always be humble and subject to You every day of our lives. I believe oh God that You are always by our side especially during the critical moments of our lives, especially when the evil one makes a comeback with force against us. May I always follow Your instructions in a spirit of prayer and adoration as did Joshua Amen. 

Historical Books Joshua Chapter 4

HISTORICAL BOOKS

 JOSHUA 

CHAPTER 

4

1. When the entire nation had finished crossing over the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua: 2. "Select twelve men from the people, one from each tribe, 3. and command them, "Take twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priest' feet stood, carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you camp tonight.'"

(Joshua Chapter 4 verses 1 to 3)

Oh God the feet of the priests had nothing special, however the location where they stood in the rivers of the Jordan was, for it was by means of Your mighty presence that the waters were silenced, so that it was possible for Your people to make the crossing to safety.

On reflecting the place where we were baptized was also special for Your presence was manifested at the time of our baptism and even confirmation, ordination and even marriage. There are many places or moments which we consider as being sacred, for during such moments we made an experience of Your holy presence. Such places are worth remembering because they bring a complete revolution in our lives. If we had to stop and think we all have such places or memories. I thank You for such special moments, especially that moment when You called me to leave my past and follow You. I thank You even though I thought I was going to follow you as a priest and not as a married man as I am today.  I thank You for shaping my life as You did .

4. Then Joshua summoned the twelve men from the Israelites, whom he had appointed, one from each tribe. 5. Joshua said to them, "Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder one for each of the tribes of the Israelites, 6. so that this may be a sign among you.  When your children ask in time to come, 'What do those stones mean to you? 7. then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever."

(Joshua Chapter 4 verses 4 to 7)


Oh God this is the same reason while we celebrate Easter, Christmas and God Friday. These events special moments in our lives as Roman Catholics that we commemorate each year. May we always give value to these occasions and pass on the message of Your Good News to our children and those following them, so that You and Your message will never die.


8. The Israelites did as Joshua commanded. They took up twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the LORD told Joshua, carried them over with them to the place where they camped, and laid them down there. 9. (Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day.)

(Joshua Chapter 4 verses 8 to 9)


As in the case of Joshua and the twelve stones we may have souvenirs that remind us of important milestones of our lives such as our baptism, first holy communion, marriage or even ordination. In our house we have original documents of these occasions framed in areas where they can be seen by all in order to keep on remembering such important moments when we related closely to You in a special way.

10. The priests who bore the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan, until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people crossed over in haste.

(Joshua Chapter 4 verse 10)


Oh God You also remained on the cross until the whole process of the passion was over. During the tests and crisis of our lives, even though I may not see You or feel You at the time You are there with Your hand resting on my shoulder as a means of support. You never leave my side during such moments of stress. Even though I may not understand what and why such things that are taking place in my life during such moments I accept in faith and with faith, that You are in control of all that is happening and that in Your good time You will deliver me from my time of crisis. Amen.


11. As soon as all the people had finished crossing over, the ark of the LORD, and the priests, crossed over in front of the people.

(Joshua Chapter 4 verse 11)


Oh God I thank You for being a never ending source of love and encouragement. In times of stress and tribulation You take the first step and go before me. When going before me You take the first consequences of the situation which is generally the toughest part and in order for me to grow as a human You permit me to endure the rest of the situation. I thank You for being so loving and merciful.


12. The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the Israelites as Moses had ordered them. 13. About forty thousand armed for war crossed over before the Lord to the plains of Jericho for battle. 

(Joshua Chapter 4 verses 12 to 13)


As Roman Catholics we are all recruits in Your army, however our weapons are not of mass destruction as in this nuclear age, but of mass construction and conversion! Our weapon is that of the message of the "Good News" as found in the bible which if prayed and reflected on has deep insights that are strong enough to persuade us to change our sinful ways and relate to You as sons and daughters.


14. On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they stood in awe of him, as they stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.

(Joshua Chapter 4 verse 14)


Oh God the same thing happened to me and maybe even to many of us when I saw Pope Francesco. His physical presence, behaviour and even his name were all of inspiration and admiration. I  could sense that this person was indeed one who had a strong relationship with You. Such people inspire public approval and admiration. I thank You oh God for choosing such sign posts to lead us throughout the course of our lives.


 15. The LORD said to Joshua, 16. "Command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant to come up out of the Jordan." 17. Joshua therefore commanded the priests, "Come up out of the Jordan." 18. When the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet touched dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.

(Joshua Chapter 4 verses 15 to 18)


Oh God my Father, You can do great things by us when we decide to obey You and Your will. As the men who were bearing the ark of the covenant were subject in obedience to You and Joshua, we are also to be subject to You and the Roman Catholic Church. Other people of other churches or religions are also subject to You by means of what they believe and practice, even though they might not believe in You. I pray oh God that one day we will all be united as one big family in the arms of one loving Father who is nobody but Yourself.

19. The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 20. Those twelve stones which they had taken out of the Jordan Joshua set up in Gilgal, 21. saying to the Israelites, "When your children ask their parents in time to come, 'What do these stones mean? 22. then you shall let your children know, Israel crossed over the Jordan here on dry ground'. 23. For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we crossed over, 24. so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, and so that you may fear the LORD forever."

(Joshua Chapter 4 verses 19 to 24)


As is written in verses 19 to 24 as parents and Roman Catholics and as Christians we all have an obligation to explain to our children the history of our salvation, so that although these events took place a long time ago, they will be made aware of them and continue to become strengthened in their faith. One day our children will grow up and they will demand answers from us, therefore we are to be prepared to give such answers by being familiar with the Word of God, so that we can then pass on this relationship of love to our sons and daughters and the flame of the faith will never die but keep on burning, from one generation to another.


Oh God I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:


Oh God and loving Father creator, of all the earth, I bless Your Name. I would like to thank You for calling me to be a Roman Catholic and a member of Your body on earth the Church. Throughout my life I have many moments to cherish that are very significant in my life, however among others I greatly commemorate the special days of my birthday, baptism, confirmation, and that day when I promised my life to You when I was going to become a friar. I also remember the day when I took the greatest commitment of my life when You chose me a wife whom to marry and also the gift of fatherhood which with Your help I carry out each day of my life. Oh God I also thank You for that special moment when You called me to follow You personally and to create this blog which I have been praying on and sharing with others since the year 2003. I greatly thank You for such moments oh Father.