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Today’s reading from Joshua 5–8 highlights several significant benchmarks in Israel’s renewed covenant relationship with God. In chapter 5, we see a powerful reengagement with God’s plan:

  1. Circumcision—This practice that revealed Israel as God’s Possession had fallen into neglect during the forty years of wandering. Here, God instructed Joshua to renew the covenant practice.
  2. Passover—The memorial celebration of God’s Protection was observed once again. It had not been celebrated since the first year after leaving Egypt.
  3. Manna—The sign of God’s Provision ceased once the people entered the Promised Land, symbolizing that they would finally be provided through the Land of Promise.
  4. Holy Ground—The words of God’s Presence were repeated when Joshua encountered the Commander of the Lord’s Army, an echo of the words spoken to Moses at the burning bush: “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.”

With these milestone events, God’s plan and His people were once again aligned.

The covenant was confirmed through the first conquest—Jericho. The Lord gave Joshua specific and detailed instructions, and Joshua obeyed precisely. The victory brought recognition:

“So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land” (Joshua 6:27).

Yet, the covenant people of God know that the credit belongs entirely to God, who guided Joshua every step of the way.

Over the next few chapters, a fundamental lesson begins to unfold for the people of covenant: Prayer is Priority because God is Priority. The victory at Jericho was marked by clear communication with God. But this was not the case in the failed attempt at Ai. Riding high from their earlier triumph, Joshua sent spies to survey Ai, and they returned with independent counsel—Joshua never sought the Lord. This lack of communication (prayer) led to a devastating and unnecessary loss of 36 men of valor.

Had Joshua inquired of the Lord, God would have warned him, just as He had through Moses in Numbers 14:41–43. Once Joshua did seek the Lord, he discovered there was sin in the camp. God again provided specific and detailed instructions, and once those were followed precisely, the Israelites continued in victory.

Ironically, Achan’s sin stemmed from taking things God had forbidden—yet in the next battle, when the people followed God’s guidance, they were given the spoils. When we trust God and glorify Him with life’s outcomes, He provides abundantly more than we could ask or imagine.

Takeaway: When prayer and obedience become our first response—not our last resort—we position ourselves to witness the faithfulness of God in ways we could never imagine left to ourselves. His provision becomes more than just enough; it becomes a testimony of His Grace in calling us, providing for us, protecting us, and being present with us.

What step of obedience or prayer for guidance might God be inviting you into today—one that could open the door to His greater purposes in your life?