FOURTH QUARTER 2025
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #7
NOVEMBER 15, 2025
"ULTIMATE LOYALTY: WORSHIP IN A WAR ZONE".

I think that most of us, if tasked with leading an army to conquer a new land as was Joshua, would focus first on our battle readiness and fighting capability. Before going to war we’d examine our offensive and defensive weapons. We would seek to take advantage of any weakness that our enemies exhibited. We would study the terrain, ensuring that when we went to battle, we had the most defensible positions.

Capitalizing on the fear sweeping through the enemy ranks would be a priority. Joshua does none of these things. Instead of focusing on the dread overtaking his enemies or working to increase his army’s fighting capability, Joshua ensures that Israel is spiritually prepared.

The fifth chapter of the book of Joshua recounts the terror that raced through the Amorites and the Canaanites. Having heard of the miraculous passage through the Jordan River, they panicked. They realize that they are facing an enemy that nothing can stop. “Their hearts melted and there was no spirit in them any longer, because of the sons of Israel” (Josh. 5:1). This seems like an opportune time to press the advantage and gain a quick victory. 

However, Joshua, following the Lord’s guidance, turns his attention to the spiritual preparation of his army rather than its combat readiness. This is a practical and important lesson for us. We too frequently pursue the opposite. Seeing an opening, we press in. Instead of turning our attention to spiritual preparation, we move forward handling the situations before us while relying on our own wisdom and strength. This week’s lesson is a call to rethink our priorities and to ensure that we are spiritually prepared for whatever might come to us.

With the awareness that Israel’s enemies are scared, the Lord proceeds to direct Joshua to have the new generation be circumcised (Josh. 5:2-8). This sign of entrance into the covenant community had been laid aside during the wilderness wanderings. Now, as the people were about to enter into their battles, it was essential that they were in full harmony with God’s instructions. It is not the act itself, though essential, but what the act symbolized that gave it power.

“It is evident that where there was no righteousness, the sign of circumcision was worthless. So, the apostle says, ‘If thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.’ As in the previous verses we learned that the form without the fact amounts to nothing, so here we are told that the sign without the substance is of no account.”—E. J. Waggoner, Signs of the Times, January 2, 1896.

“The suspension of the rite of circumcision…had been a constant witness to Israel that their covenant with God…had been broken. And the discontinuance of the Passover…had been an evidence of the Lord’s displeasure at their desire to return to the land of bondage. Now, however, the years of rejection were ended. Once more God acknowledged Israel as his people, and the sign of the covenant was restored.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 485-6.

This was the time when the Lord said he would “roll away the reproach of Egypt from you” (Josh. 5: 9). 

It was a time of marked transition. Wandering in the desert for so many years had brought disrepute upon God and His ability to bring His people into their land. Now that time was over. The stopping of the Jordan was a present sign to the people living in the land. While before they mocked Yahweh for His apparent inability to bring His people to the promised territory, now they were trembling before His presence. Shortly after the circumcision of Israel, the Passover was to be celebrated. It ushered in a great change for the children of Israel.

 On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they had eaten some of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year” (Josh. 5:11-12). It was essential for the conquest that the people be fully dependent upon God. God longs to do things for us as we rely fully on Him. In what ways can you reconsecrate yourself to Him? Are there areas in your life that you’ve been neglecting, and now God is inviting you to allow Him to cleanse your heart? 

After a mixture of success and failure on the battlefield (Josh 6-8), Joshua leads the entire people in a national ceremony of consecration. An altar of uncut stones is set up as a reminder of the covenant that God made with his people. All the people were gathered on two opposing mounts, Ebal and Gerizim. There they proclaimed their renewed faithfulness to God. The location was significant. Abraham first raised an altar here. This was the place where Jacob dug his well. It was in this area that Jacob’s sons brought dishonor to their father. Joseph’s bones, carried from Egypt are buried here. This region possessed great importance to the children of Abraham. It was essential that the covenant be read aloud, so that all may hear.

“Satan is ever at work endeavoring to pervert what God has spoken…and thus lead men into sin. This why the Lord is so explicit…making His requirements so very plain that none need err. God is constantly seeking to draw men close under His protection…”—ibid., p. 504. 

“The great law of love revealed in Eden, proclaimed upon Sinai, and in the new covenant…is that which binds the human worker to the will of God…God confines us to His will, which is high, and noble, and elevating.” —Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 329-330. 

While the children of Israel dwelt in the desert many must have asked, what was the purpose of this long journey? Would they ever be allowed into the promised land? Ultimately, they were brought to the land, and in the beginning of its conquest, rededicated to God. We also wonder about the future, and what will it bring. At times God’s promises seem slow in reaching fulfillment. We wonder if we too might be left to travel in circles in our own life wilderness. 

“Worry is blind, and cannot discern the future; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning. In every difficulty He has His way prepared to bring relief. Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us, of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service and honor of God supreme will find perplexities vanish, and a plain path before their feet.” —Ibid., p. 330.

“The path of sincerity and integrity is not a path free from obstruction, but in every difficulty we are to see a call to prayer. There is no one living who has any power that he has not received from God, and the source whence it comes is open to the weakest human being.”—Ibid., p. 667.

Joshua and his army had knowledge that their battles were coming. They were well aware of their time of preparation. Unfortunately, our battles are not so self-evidently imminent. Often we are surprised by the events that come to us. The apostle Paul warns of uncertain times (1 Thess 2.5-6). But: “We who know the truth should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies, Vol. 8, p. 28. Thus, the importance for to live in a state of readiness. None of us know how long we will be in this world.

“We are not to live upon time excitement…You will not be able to say that he will come in one, two, or five years, neither are you to put off his coming by stating that it may not be for ten or twenty years.”—Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, March 22, 1892.

The lesson from this section of Joshua is that spiritual preparation is our most important concern. During the years of our Christian experience, some things may have become less important to us. This week, set aside time to allow God to speak to your heart. Ask that His voice might be clear. He longs to prepare us each for the spiritual battle that tomorrow will bring.

~ Steven Grabiner