Behind the Scenes: God’s Orchestration in Joshua 5

The story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River under the leadership of Joshua is deeply theologically significant and spiritually moving. At the heart of this narrative is not merely the dramatic miracle of waters parting, but the sovereign orchestration of God's plan, the renewal of covenantal identity, and the bold obedience of a leader who chose trust over human strategy.

The most remarkable aspect of the crossing is, of course, that God parted the Jordan River, allowing the Israelites to pass through on dry ground—an act that unmistakably mirrors the earlier deliverance under Moses at the Red Sea. However, the timing and location of this miracle are especially important. According to Joshua 3, the crossing occurred during the harvest season, which corresponded with the rainy period in the region. During this time, the Jordan’s current would have been especially strong, and its waters overflowing the banks. No human force—no matter how trained or technologically equipped—could have crossed such a river at that time. Historically, people crossed the Jordan during dry seasons by fording the river at its shallowest northern points. But Israel crossed at the central stretch—near Jericho—where such a passage was humanly impossible.

This is why Joshua 5:1 is a critical interpretive verse:

“Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites” (NIV).

This reaction was not born of hearsay alone—it was born of concrete observation. The kings of the region, especially Jericho's, knew the river’s force and how impossible it was at that season. When they realized the Israelites had somehow crossed—not at a ford, not by human ingenuity, but by divine intervention—their terror was rooted in undeniable evidence of God's power. The enemy’s hearts melted not only because they believed the reports, but because they knew the miracle had truly occurred.

It is in this context that God commanded Joshua to circumcise the Israelites at Gilgal, just one to two miles from Jericho: “At that time the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again’” (Joshua 5:2).

This was not a random ritual decision, but a divine command grounded in covenant renewal. The generation born in the wilderness had not been circumcised, and before they could take possession of the land, they needed to reestablish their covenantal identity with Yahweh.

Yet, from a strategic perspective, this was a dangerous decision. Joshua knew, and had heard from Rahab (Joshua 2:9–11), that the people of Jericho were already fearful and aware of Israel's presence. He also knew that to circumcise every male would mean temporarily incapacitating the army—leaving the entire camp vulnerable to attack. Historically, Israel knew how circumcision could be exploited as a moment of weakness (cf. Genesis 34:24–25, when Simeon and Levi slaughtered the Shechemites while they were recovering from circumcision). Joshua, then, stood at a crossroads between military prudence and covenantal obedience.

Still, Joshua obeyed. As Moses had repeatedly exhorted him before his death, Joshua was strong and courageous—not because of his own strength, but because the Lord was with him (Deuteronomy 31:6–8; Joshua 1:6–9). He chose the way of the covenant, not the way of calculation. Though he could have prioritized training his people for battle, he chose to mark them with the sign of belonging to God.

Why did he make such a risky decision? First, because God commanded it. Second, because Joshua had learned that the battle belongs to the Lord. His time serving under Moses had taught him that victory never came through Israel’s might, but through God's presence. When the odds were against them, God delivered them—not because of their numbers or strategy, but because of his covenantal faithfulness. Joshua had seen the God of wonders act on Israel’s behalf and knew that obedience, not strategy, was the path to victory.

Moreover, Joshua understood a deeper truth about leadership and life: what is most important is not always what appears most needed. Human needs shift with circumstances, and if we prioritize action only based on what seems urgent, we risk losing our foundation. Joshua knew that the priority was to trust in God with all their hearts, to remember his mercy and faithfulness, and to follow his guidance above all else. He was not just a skilled leader—he was a faithful student of Moses and of the covenant.

In this light, circumcision at Gilgal becomes a theological statement: Faith comes before force. Obedience precedes success. When God calls us to trust him—especially in moments that seem risky or unreasonable—it is never a blind leap. God is already at work behind the scenes. He had already melted the hearts of Jericho’s inhabitants. He had already prepared the land for Israel’s possession. God's call to courage is never a command into chaos—it is an invitation into divine purpose.

This contrast between Israel and Jericho is telling. Israel had the God of Yahweh; Jericho did not. Israel had the law of God; Jericho did not. God was with Israel; he was not with Jericho. And therefore, Israel had courage—true courage grounded in divine presence—while Jericho had only fear. The people of Israel could be strong because they knew who their God was. And in knowing who God was, they came to understand who they were: his chosen, covenant people, destined to inherit the land by faith.

Thus, Joshua's decision was not only strategic in divine terms—it was theologically profound. It reaffirmed that Israel’s security did not come from the sword, but from submission to the Lord. When God's people choose obedience over expediency, they align themselves with the power of the one who commands history. That is why they won the battle—not because they were ready, but because God was working behind the scene already.