Why Joshua Prioritized Passover Before War in Canaan

It is a wonderful truth that Joshua prioritized spiritual preparation over military action, choosing to celebrate the Passover and renew the covenant relationship because their reliance for success rested entirely upon God’s strength and fidelity, not their own might 💪.

The decision to celebrate the Passover Joshua 5:10 immediately upon entering Canaan was profoundly significant, emphasizing that spiritual commitment and obedience must always precede any great work, especially conflict with the enemy.

Prioritizing Covenant Renewal

The immediate actions taken by Joshua demonstrated that reestablishing their covenant with the Lord was the most important step before commencing the conquest of the Promised Land:

• Ending the Reproach: After the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, the Israelites first encamped at Gilgal Joshua 4:19+1ST July 27, 1882, par. 9. The first priority was not fighting, but undergoing circumcision, an act necessary to restore the sign of the covenant that had been suspended during the forty years of wilderness wandering Numbers 32:6-15EP 344.4+1. This ceremonial action was crucial because it symbolically "rolled away the reproach of Egypt," cleansing and consecrating the new generation as God’s true people before they laid claim to the inheritance Joshua 5:9EVCO 372.3.

• Trusting God’s Protection: By commanding the entire army to undergo this ritual, Joshua exposed the fighting force to vulnerability for at least three days on enemy territory, demonstrating unwavering faith that the battle belonged to God, and that obedience to Him was their ultimate defenseEP 346.1.

The Profound Significance of the Passover

Following the renewal of the covenant through circumcision, the celebration of the Passover served as a formal rededication of the nation to the Lord:

• A Yearly Memorial: The Passover, held on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month, was a yearly memorial instituted upon their deliverance from Egypt Exodus 12:6HLv 45.3+1. By observing it in Canaan, the people recalled the night the destroying angel passed over the houses marked by blood, reaffirming their identity and loyalty to the God who redeemed them Exodus 12:11+1PTUK November 23, 1899, page 737.3.

• Obedience and Purification: This solemn feast prioritized spiritual fidelity and strictly adhered to divine instructions, thereby consecrating Israel as the purified, obedient people of God before they faced the immense task of taking the land Joshua 5:10+1PP 485.2+1.

• Foreshadowing Christ: Ultimately, the sacrificial lamb of the Passover pointed forward to the true Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who sacrifices Himself to redeem humanity from the bondage of sin 1 Corinthians 5:7+1. Joshua’s act of observance cemented the foundational truth that all their victories and their very existence depended on the relationship symbolized by the sacrifice John 1:29+1.

Joshua’s example teaches us today that our highest priority must always be seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness first, trusting that our spiritual preparation and obedience provide the true foundation for success in all of life’s conflicts Matthew 6:33. The Lord fights for those who wholly follow Him Joshua 1:6-912LtMs, Lt 106, 1897, par. 23.