Based on a sermon preached on July 15, 2012, edited by Steve Fountain. Here is a link to the sermon.
Every now and then, we will hear our youngest son, Seth, say these words: “Dad, Mom, Dad, Mom! Look at me!” And if we don’t look at him, he will repeat those words again and again until we do look at him. Seth is parroting what we say to him, when we want his attention — “Seth, look in my eyes.” That way we know that he is listening to us. God uses diverse means to get us to look into His eyes. They may come in financial, health or family challenges. But sometimes God simply makes us stop.
But, with Israel primed to take over the land, God runs counter to man's logic by having Israel wait. To be sure God has their undivided attention, He literally incapacitates the fighting force by ordering the circumcision of all the men. God is most concerned about the heart of His people.
Joshua 5 uses three mini-episodes to demonstrate God's greatest concern:
1. God wants our intentional consecration (Joshua 5:2-9): In Old Testament times, the ritual of cutting and casting away a man's foreskin left the rest of the person intact and, thus, consecrated. The timing of this order forced the Israelites to trust God—not just in the circumcision, but in being protected during their recovery from attacks from nearby Jericho and Ai. Outward demonstrations of faith are important to God, God is supremely interested in what happens inside of us. God wants our hearts. He knows if we have genuine faith.
2. God wants our thankful contentment (Joshua 5:10-12): We observe that on the 14th day of the month, they celebrate the Passover. Just when they are beginning to heal, they sacrifice the lamb, and eat Passover. However, the emphasis is not so much on the Passover, as it is on the change in God’s provision for His people as the sustaining manna ceases and the people were able to eat from the land's bounty. It was also a symbol of Israel taking possession of the land, and now enjoying the firstfruits of God's promise and the knowledge that their wilderness exile was over!
3. God wants our humble commitment (Joshua 5:13-15): This last scene occurs just outside the gates of Jericho. Joshua had decided to do some reconnaissance of his own, and had crept down to city to get a view of the enemies fortifications. As the story continues, Joshua rounds a corner, and is taken aback by whom he sees standing before him — a man with his sword drawn.
Joshua asks the warrior: “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And, to his shock, he hears this response: The warrior belongs to neither side. Rather, his allegiance is to the garrison of the Lord’s army.
God wanted Joshua to know clearly whom Joshua was serving. God was not serving Joshua as such; rather, Joshua was going to be serving God. This is a significant moment, as Joshua is on the verge of certain victory in Canaan. The possible heart response of Joshua would be pride and presumption.
God wants our humble commitment to serve Him and God wants our undivided loyalties, as seen in holiness. Sadly, we have turned the word Holy into a word that is often associated with the attitude of legalism.
Conclusion: When I say to my son, look at me in my eyes; it is with the purpose of securing his undivided attention. I do not consider it legalism, but love, when he responses with a quiet submissiveness. Why should we think less of God?
Perhaps God is speaking to you today, saying "Look at me in the Eyes." Will you give him your undivided attention?
Perhaps God is speaking to you today, saying "Look at me in the Eyes." Will you give him your undivided attention?
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