Sunday, 13 December 2020
Joshua 5
Rev. Dr. Daniel Poon
We know that God has promised us a lot, and God told us that 2020 we would arise and shine. It is the end of the year and we will enter 2021. Just as the Israelites faced the Jordan River after Moses had passed away, and Joshua as the new leader to lead a new generation to enter the Promised Land. Forty years ago, they had sent spies to search this promised land, but they finally decided not to enter. Forty years later, everything was changed. The people of the previous generation had passed, and the mission was still there. They were now going to cross the Jordan River. What should they do? Compared with Moses, Joshua was a young man. He wanted to lead them into the promised land. How could they have the confidence to cross the river? We have made many plans which have been cancelled this year due to Covid-19. People got unemployed, lost loved ones, and many things have happened. How should we face the end of 2020 and enter 2021?
We know that in 2021, God has a promise for our future. What God promised you from the beginning has never changed. What has changed is our faith, the world, and the people around us, but God’s promise never changes. We must believe that God’s promise is waiting for us 2021.
1. God will provide
Joshua 5:1
Not only did the Israelites see it, but the Canaanite kings heard that the water in the Jordan River was dried out, so their hearts were melted. Previously those 12 spies went to Canaan to spy and said that their hearts were melted because they saw themselves as grasshoppers in front of the enemy. What happened now had been completely reversed. The total number of Israelites was still the same, but the hearts of the people of Canaan melted. Joshua and the others did not need to fight, because the Canaanites had already lost this battle. Before the Israelites were about to cross the river, God had already prepared. But now, the Israelites did not know that the Canaanites’ hearts had been melted. They were still afraid, worried, and anxious, and they were still wondering how to cross the river.
In the book of Joshua, God kept telling him to “be strong and of good courage”, and “do not be afraid”. Joshua also had this struggle. Just like us, the future ahead is unknown, and we still worry about the path God has prepared for us. The experience in the past seems to stay in our memory. Even for the second generation, the Israelites were still occupied by the voice of the bad message sent by the spies 40 years ago. In the past we seemed to have failed and could not enter the promised land. But this does not mean that when God’s time comes, we cannot enter the Promised Land. Do we have confidence? Are we feeling timid just because of our failure in the past? Maybe someone got hurt in the past or the things that had happened did not meet your expectations. These thoughts are preventing us from entering what God wants us to enter. But I tell you today that God has prepared us to cross, not just to cross, but to enter. God knows each of us very well. He knows our weaknesses. All we have to do is to believe in Him, forget the past, have faith and cross over all that hinders you to God’s promise.
2. Separate Out
Joshua 5:2, 5, 8-12
God asked Joshua to circumcise the Israelites. Here we see an important thing. When all men are circumcised, it will take some time for them to recover because they are so painful that they cannot walk. Men born after leaving Egypt had not undergone circumcision because they did not have time in the wilderness as they had to follow the clouds for their journey.
After crossing the Jordan, they must be eager to enter the promised land, but God did not ask them to go ahead immediately. God said that everyone would be circumcised now. Remember that the Israelites had a waiting time before crossing the Jordan River. Why didn’t God ask them to do the circumcision during this time? Now that they had passed the Jordan River – by walking on the dry land, which was a great miracle, so and everyone was extremely excited and confident to occupy Jericho, but God told them to stop. If you were an Israelite, would you believe in Joshua? You may think he is crazy.
They also lost the ability to fight after being circumcised due to pain. If people from a city at night attacked them at this time, they would be killed and destroyed. But God told Joshua to prepare knives to circumcise the men. God does not allow us to enter His promised land with any impurity from the past, and God also cares whether we have such faith and obedience to Him. Many times, you may question whether this matter is logical or not, but God wants us to listen and follow. Because He knows that everything is in His hands. The true victory is not in the hands of the enemy, but in the hands of God. It does not matter whether you have the ability to fight or not, but God has prepared it and the victory of the battle in Jericho belongs to us. We may have a long to-do list we want to finish in our minds, but God wants us to wait for Him. He does not want us to look at our to-do list. We may say that we must finish this first. But sometimes God says, no, stop and wait. While waiting, you cannot do anything. What is more terrifying than waiting was just like when the Israelites were waiting after circumcision, they lost all their abilities to defend themselves.
Joshua 5: 8
The translation of the NKJ version is different from the Chinese one. NKJV says all people, and in Chinese it was translated as “People of Nations”. After they are circumcised, they are the people of the kingdom of God. From the people to the people of the kingdom of God, God cares about this matter. You will think that we are thirty or forty years old, why should we get circumcised? God cares whether we obey God’s Word or not. The Bible says that the word of God is a lamp to our feet. Do we follow the lamp before our feet, follow the word of God?
Joshua 5: 9
We do not know that we were full of reproach when we followed this world in the past. God wants to roll away the reproach of following the world from us. When we are putting one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom of God, it is what the Bible says, the “reproach of Egypt”. We must let the reproach of Egypt be rolled away from us in the name of Jesus. We are set apart because the promised land we are facing is difficult, and we will fail without God. Many people have lost their dreams, thinking that completing the to-do list daily is good enough. We feel that we have lost the ability to do it. The needs of life and mortgage pressure us to live day by day, and we seem to be used to a life of slavery. The life of slavery in Egypt in 430 years seems to be fine for us. But God cares. He wants the Israelites to be circumcised and roll away Egypt’s reproach.
Joshua 5:10-12
The Israelites celebrated Passover as they left Egypt. 40 years later, in front of Jericho in the night, the Passover was observed again. God reminded them how they left Egypt 40 years ago. The firstborns of Egypt were killed, and the firstborn of Israel did not die. When you cross over, it is not by your ability, but by the Lord. Who has led you to where you are today? If it were not God, you could not have come here. If you forget about this, you will lose your relationship with God and be alone. God was teaching every Israelite to know who to rely on before entering the city of Jericho. In the same way, God is also reminding us, we cannot get here this far by our own ability, nor is it by our ancestors’ effort. If not by God, we will not have won the victory.
John 5:17 “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” As long as we seek Him, God’s work will not just stay in one generation only. The Jews keep the Passover because they will tell their descendants every year how God led them out of Egypt and do not want their children and grandchildren to forget how God blessed them. They knew that their children and grandchildren could not rely on material possessions. They could only rely on God, because God is the God of creation. Only by relying on Him can their lives be blessed. Do we still remember how God led us and blessed us? Have we taught our children to rely on God, our Lord?
3. Rely on God Only
Joshua 5:13-15
When Joshua was about to go to Jericho, he lifted his eyes and looked, and he saw someone. It was similar to the records in Genesis 18:2 where Abraham saw three people standing opposite him. God promised Abraham many things, but he did not know what was going on and how to make the promise happen. He wanted to find answers and signs. God knew him. At that time, three people met Abraham. God choose us and God knows us. When God is talking to us, are we willing to listen and have a humble heart or not? Joshua saw a Man standing opposite him with a sword drawn in His hand. Joshua asked Him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?”
V14, He replied, “…as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come. ” We often pray that God will help us fix our problems. This is our prayer and the way we interact with God. We let ourselves be God, and let God serve us, so God can help us as we want. But the truth is, He is the commander of the Lord’s army. If each of us is in His army, He will be the One with power and fight for us. Are you willing to become the army of the Lord and follow God? He is our commander and leads us to victory. Joshua fell to the earth and worshipped, showing his humility to God. He was willing to follow God. He fell on his face completely.
V15, Joshua took off his sandal, and stood on the holy ground. The same thing happened in Exodus 3:4-5 when God said to Moses not to go near that place. God asked both Joshua and Moses to take off their sandals. Why did they wear sandals? For Israelites, they needed to wear sandals for walking. When God asked them to take off sandals on a holy place, they could not rely on themselves anymore, and that place is where God’s will would be done on earth as in heaven. This is what God teaches us to pray in the Lord’s Prayer. We forgot to remind ourselves and our children that we must take off our sandals. If we do not take off sandals when we pray, we will not put down our own ways and still choose the easy way. When we experience hardships, we do not think it is God’s way because we only believe in material blessings, which is not the truth. Jesus and all the apostles had gone through all the hardships, but our heavenly Father never abandoned them. People threw stones at Stephen. He did not call on the Lord to help him so that the stones would be gone. The Bible says he fell asleep. He knew that God was with him. Sufferings and problems are no longer problems for us when God is with us. Our only problem is that we are far away from God. What God cares about is our relationship with Him. How is your relationship with God now? What do you pray for? We prayed that the Covid-19 virus would completely disappear, and the world become peaceful again. We forget to ask God, why did these things happen? And what is God’s will? What God treasures is that the Gospel will be spread to all nations because of this, because only God’s kingdom will last forever.
Response:
Brothers and sisters, maybe you came to the church with different expectations. God knows what you really need in life. God knows how to truly bless our lives. Are you willing to take off your sandals and stand on the holy ground?
Looking backwards in December, we seemed to have wasted a whole year. However, in the kingdom of God, even forty years in the wilderness is not a waste. In this season of cross-over, we will align with God again. Do a prophetic action for yourself, imitate Joshua and Abraham, use your hand to take the shoes off your feet and show that we are willing to take off our way of walking. We also take a step forward to symbolise entering to the promise of God, to His kingdom, and never going back.
2020年12月13日 主日
约书亚记第五章
潘锡安牧师
我们知道神应许我们很多，神告诉我们2020年要兴起发光，已经到了年底，我们要进入2021年。就像以色列人他们面对约旦河，摩西已经去世了，约书亚这位新的领袖要带领一个新的世代进入应许之地。四十年前，他们知道这块应许之地，曾经有探子进去过，但是他们最后决定不进去。四十年后，所有的事情改变了，上一个世代的人过去了，使命仍然在，他们现在要跨越约旦河，他们要怎么做呢？摩西过世了，约书亚跟摩西比起来，是年轻人，他要带领他们进入应许之地，他们怎么有信心跨越呢？今年，我们有很多的计划，但是因为新冠，很多事情都取消了，很多事情改变了。人们失业，失去所爱的人，很多事情发生，我们该如何面对2020的结束，进入2021呢？
我们知道2021年，神对我们前面的路有一个应许。神从起初应许你的，从未改变，改变的是我们的信心、世界、周围的人，但是神的应许永不改变。我们要相信，2021年，神的应许就在这里等候我们。
一、神必有预备
书 5:1
不只是以色列人看见了，在迦南人的诸王听到约旦河的水都干了，所以他们的心都消化了。之前12个探子去到迦南地窥探后回来说，他们的心消化了，因为在敌人面前我们好像蚱蜢一样。现在发生的事情出现了完全的翻转。以色列人的人数还是一样，但是迦南地的王他们的心都消化了。约书亚他们不需要去征战，迦南人已经失去了这场战役。神在以色列人要过河之前，神已经有预备了。但是在当下，以色列人不知道迦南人的心已经消化了，他们仍然害怕、担忧、不安，还不确定他们要怎么过河。
神不断跟约书亚说，你要刚强壮胆，不要惧怕。约书亚也有这样的挣扎。就像我们，对于前面的道路是未知的，神为我们预备道路，可我们还是会担忧。在我们记忆里，好像停留在四十年的经验里，即使到了第二代，他们脑子里听到的声音还是四十年前探子带回来的恶信。这就好像我们，过去我们好像是失败的，进不去应许之地。但是这不代表，神的时间来到的时候，我们仍进不去应许之地。我们有没有信心？是不是因为过去的经历而胆怯。可能过去曾经被人伤害，或者发生的事情不照着你计划的轨迹发生。而这些思想实际上都在拦阻我们进入神要我们进入的。但是我今天告诉大家，神已经预备好我们要跨越，不只是跨越，而是进入。神非常了解我们每个人，他知道我们的软弱，我们要做的就是相信他，忘记过去，有信心，进入跨越，跨越那一切拦阻神要你进入应许的东西。
二、分别出来
书 5:2, 5, 8-12
5:2, 5- 神要求约书亚去给以色列人行割礼，这里我们看到很重要的事情，当所有的男士受割礼，他们需要一段时间来恢复，因为他们痛得无法行走。出埃及后出生的男人没有行割礼，因为他们怕无法行走而落后行路。以色列人是怎样起行，不是根据自己的状况，因为神借着云彩告诉他们起行或停留。他们过了约旦河，一定想要马上进入应许之地，神却没有说，冲。神说每一个人现在要受割礼。以色列人在跨越约旦河之前有一段等候的时间，为什么神不要他们在这段时间去行割礼呢？现在已经过了约旦河了，每个人都很兴奋要去攻打耶利哥城了，但是神跟他们说要停止，他们能在约旦河干地行走是神迹。一步又一步，他们充满信心觉得耶利哥城都是他们的。神却说停下来，你们先受割礼。如果你是以色列人，你相信约书亚吗，还是觉得他很疯狂。
他们受割礼的时候因疼痛会暂时失去战斗的能力。如果耶利哥城的人这时候来进攻他们，他们一定会被杀、被毁灭。但是神要约书亚预备刀子给男人行割礼。神不允许我们带着任何不纯洁的过去，进入到他的应许之地，神也在乎我们是否有这样的信心。神在乎我们是否顺服。可能很多时候你会质疑，这件事情不合逻辑，神要我们听从、跟随。因为他知道，万事都在他的手上，真正得胜不在乎敌人，而是在神手上，不在乎你是否有能力征战，而是神已经预备好了，在耶利哥要打的胜仗是属于我们。我们思想里有很多想做的事情，每天有很多需要完成的事项，但是神没有说要把所有的待办事项处理完。神要我们等候他，他不想让我们看着我们的待办事项，我们会说我要做这个事情，神有时候会说，不，要停止，要等待。等待的时候，你什么事都不能做。可能比等待更可怕，就像以色列人在割礼等候的时候，他们失去了所有防御的能力。
书 5:8
NKJ版本翻译跟中文不太一样，NKJ说的是所有的人，中文说的是国民people of nations，在他们受割礼后，他们就是属于神国的子民。从people百姓到神国的子民，神在乎这件事情。你会觉得，我们已经三四十岁了，为什么要行割礼。神在乎我们是否听从神的话语。圣经说神的话是我们脚前的灯。我们是否有跟随脚前的灯，跟随神的话语。
书 5：9
我们不知道过去跟随这世界时我们是充满了羞愧的。神要把跟随世界的羞辱从你身上滚出去。当我们好像一只脚在世界，一只脚在神的国时，这就是圣经说的，从埃及来的羞辱。我们必须要奉耶稣的名让埃及的羞辱从我们身上滚出去。我们分别为圣是因为前面要面对的应许之地是很难的，没有神我们会失败。很多人已经失去了梦想，以为能完成待办事项就好，我们觉得失去了可以做的能力。生活的需要、贷款压得我们一天过一天，我们好像也习惯了奴役的生活。430年在埃及奴役的生活好像对我们来说也没关系。但是神在意，他要以色列人行割礼，将埃及的羞辱滚出去。
书 5：10-12
出埃及时他们守逾越节。40年后，他们在耶利哥城前守逾越节。神提醒他们，40年前，他们如何离开埃及，埃及头生的被杀死，以色列人头生的却没有死。当你跨越了，不是靠你的能力，是靠着耶和华。今天你能来到这个时刻，谁带领你到如今的位置？如果不是神，你不可能在这里。如果你忘记，你会失去与神的关系，在你所要经历的高山低谷就只有你自己，今天神在告诉每个人，明天你要进入耶利哥城了，你要依靠什么？同样，神提醒我们，我们独自一人是没有办法来到现在这个位置的，也不是因为前人的承托。要思想，是谁带领着我们的先辈走到如今。如果不是耶和华，他们也不会得胜。
约5:17，耶稣说，我父做事直到如今，我也做事。只要我们寻求他，神不会只在一个世代做事情。犹太人守逾越节，是为了他们每年都会告诉后代，曾经神如何带领他们出埃及，不要孩子孙子们忘记神如何祝福他们，他们知道他们的子孙无法依靠物质的财产，他们能倚靠的只有神，因为神是创造的神。他们只有依靠他，他们的生命才能得到祝福。我们是否还记得神如何带领我们，祝福我们？我们是否教导、告诉我们的孩子，唯有靠耶和华才能得胜。
三、单单依靠神
书 5:13-15
以色列人受了割礼，过了逾越节后，约书亚要去耶利哥城前，他举目观看，看到一个人。这和创世记18:2情形相似，就是亚伯拉罕见到三个人在对面站着。神应许亚伯拉罕很多事情，但他不知道到底怎么回事，如何使应许发生，他想要找到答案、征兆，神了解他，于是在那时候，三个人与亚伯拉罕相遇。神拣选我们，神也知道我们。神会告诉我们，我们是否愿意聆听，是否有谦卑的心。约书亚看到一个人在对面站立，手里拿着拔出来的刀，约书亚问他，你是来帮助我们还是帮助敌人的？
V14，这人回答说，“我来是要做耶和华军队的元帅。” 我们常常祷告，说神要帮助我解决问题，这是我们与神互动的方式，我们让自己成为神，让神来服侍我们，让神照着我们的旨意成就。神要怎么做呢？他如何掌权，他是耶和华军队的元帅，如果我们每个人都在军队里他就掌权，为我们争战战，你是否愿意成为耶和华的军队，跟随神，他是我们的元帅，带领我们争战得胜。我们不是拉着神，而是伸出手，让他带领我们。约书亚就俯伏下拜，向神展示他的谦卑，他愿意跟随神，他是脸完全贴地的下拜。
V15, 约书亚因所站的是圣地就脱下鞋子。 同样的话语发生在出埃及记3:5，神对摩西说，不要靠近那个地方。神要约书亚摩西脱下鞋子，他们为什么要穿鞋子。对以色列人来说，需要穿鞋行走。神说脱下鞋子，他们就不再倚靠自己，因为这里是圣地，是只有神的旨意行在地上如同行在天上，这是神教导我们在主祷文的祷告。我们忘了教导自己和孩子，必须要把鞋子脱下来。我们这样祷告，但我们还是穿着自己的鞋子，不肯放下自己的方式，仍然选择了容易的道路，经历困苦的时候，我们不要经历主的道路。耶稣走过了所有的艰难，使徒经历了所有的苦难，但是主永远不丢弃他们，神永远与他们同在。司提反，人给他丢石头，他没有呼求主啊，帮助我，让石头不见，圣经说他睡了。他知道，神与他同在。苦难、问题，对我们就不再是问题，我们唯一的问题是我们远离了神，神在乎的是我们与他的关系，现在你跟神的关系是怎样的，你祷告的内容是什么。我们祷告肺炎完全离开，世界和平，我们忘了问神，为什么会发生这些事情？但是神的心意是什么，不是这些消失，神在意的是福音要因此而传遍列国，因为只有神的国是永远长存的。
回应：
弟兄姐妹，或许你带着不一样的期待来到教会。神知道你生命真实需要的是什么。神知道怎样真实祝福我们的生命，你是否愿意脱下鞋子，站在圣地上？
12月，我们好像觉得浪费了一年。在神的国，即便是四十年在旷野，也不是浪费的。在这个跨越的季节，我们再次与神对齐。为自己做先知性的行动，效法约书亚和摩西，用你的手感觉把你脚上的鞋子脱下来，表明我们愿意，脱下我们自己行走的方式，在着跨越的季节，我们是光着脚，在圣所，往前走一步，我们跨越到神的应许里面。我们两只脚进入到应许，进入到神的国，把世界摆在后面，让神在我们前面。