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Preparation To Take The Land - Joshua 5
Preparation To Take The Land - Joshua 5
Circumcision - This practice began with Abraham as God commanded him and all those (males) within his household to be circumcised (Gen. 17:10-14). The warning attached was that failure to do so would result in being 'cut off' from the people. We remember that Moses failed and God sought to put him death. The intercession of his wife, circumcising their son, allowed him to live (Ex. 4:24-26). The whole of the first generation that came out of Egypt WAS circumcised. For whatever reason, they did NOT circumcise the 2nd generation of people (vs. 5. Now, before they can enter the land as God's people, they all are circumcised unto the Lord. They called this place 'Gilgal' (our reproach is rolled away), for here, with circumcision renewed, God had removed their reproach.
Passover - This was the celebration of their deliverance from Egypt. It was to be done every year and they would recall that God had spared them from the plague of the death of the firstborn. Now, as they set out to leave the wilderness they again observe the passover. NOW, as they are to enter the land of promise, they once again remember the LORD's salvation.
Call to Holiness - Israel has beheld the holiness of Lord on so many occasions during the wanderings. The whole book of Leviticus stressed the uniqueness and separation of God from sin, uncleanness, and ungodliness. Their fathers had been unfaithful in this, now this generation is called to NOT be like their fathers! They are to be HOLY unto the Lord.
With this, they are prepared to enter the land as God's people.
For the Christian, this story has its counterparts in the New Testament.
We are circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, having, by faith, been baptized into Christ (Col. 2:10-13).
We have Jesus our passover - 1 Cor. 5:7
We are called to a life of holiness - 1Pet. 1:16, 1 Thess. 4:1f. We have come out from among them, we have been renewed in the spirit of our minds, we are being transformed FROM the world (cp. 2Cor. 6:17 - 7:1; Eph. 4:16f; Rom. 12:1-2).
IN this, we enter our warfare against sin and ungodliness. The main battle is FIRST with self, and then in helping others to overcome. The only path to overcoming is trust in Jesus and in such trust to follow Him. Have you prepared yourself for this battle? Paul said that Christians are "more than conquerors thru Him who loved us and gave himself for us" (Rom. 8:37). Are you part of that people?
Hugh DeLong
