Joshua 5: How Does It Apply To The Church?

Joshua 5 shows baptism as covenant entrance, communion for the baptized, holiness, and Christ as Captain leading His church in faith and obedience.

Circumcision and Baptism – Israel’s circumcision at Gilgal is paralleled to Christian baptism. Just as circumcision marked covenant membership and prepared Israel to celebrate Passover, baptism marks entrance into the covenant community and admits believers to the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is understood as the Spirit’s work of the “true circumcision of the heart” (cf. Deut. 10:16; Rom. 2:29), joining both Jew and Gentile into Christ’s death and resurrection (Col. 2:11–12). This means the church must not cheapen baptism or communion but guard them as holy ordinances of covenant belonging (Hinlicky 91–101).

Passover and the Lord’s Supper – The keeping of Passover after circumcision points to the Lord’s Supper as the covenant meal for the baptized. The commentary rejects “radical Eucharistic hospitality” (giving communion without baptism), noting that baptism is the sign that turns outsiders into insiders, as Rahab was sanctified by faith. The church is called to maintain this order: baptism, then communion, as participation in Christ our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7–8) (Hinlicky 91–101).

Faith over Human Strength – Israel’s circumcision before battle left them militarily vulnerable, teaching them to trust in the Lord’s power, not their own. The church is likewise called to live by obedient faith, not worldly strategies or reliance on human strength. Our power lies in weakness, showing that victory belongs to the Lord (2 Cor. 12:9–10) (Hinlicky 91–101).

Holiness and Separation – Circumcision “rolled away the reproach of Egypt,” signifying a break with slavery and unbelief. For the church, baptism and sanctification signify breaking with the world and living as God’s new creation. Egypt represents the old life; the church is called to live in covenant obedience as those “born anew” (Hinlicky 91–101).

Christ as Captain – The vision of the commander of the Lord’s army shows that God is not on Israel’s side or Jericho’s, but Israel must submit to Him. The church is reminded that Christ is the true Captain of salvation (Heb. 2:10). The question is not whether Christ is on our side, but whether we are on His. The church’s calling is surrender to Christ’s lordship (Hinlicky 91–101).

Works Cited

Hinlicky, Paul R. Joshua. Edited by R. R. Reno, Brazos Press: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2021, pp. 91–101.