| Joshua 5:1-7:15; Luke 15:1-32; Psalm 81:1-16; Proverbs 13:1
“At that time the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelite men again.’ …Though all the people who came out were circumcised, none of the people born in the wilderness along the way were circumcised after they had come out of Egypt. For the Israelites wandered for 40 years until all the nation’s men of war who came out of Egypt had died off because they did not obey the Lord.” (Joshua 5:2, 5-6)
“The Lord then said to Joshua, ‘Today I have rolled away the disgrace of Egypt from you.'” (5:8-9)
Circumcision was a sign of the covenant between God and man. At this point in time the covenant was so broken they were not even doing the circumcision ritual anymore. God just allowed all of the adults to die out.
As a sign of a fresh start and renewed covenant, the Lord told Joshua to circumcise all of the men prior to taking the land. Before they could physically conquer anything they had to get the spiritual aspects of their lives in order.
“March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven ram’s-horn trumpets in front of the ark. But on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the trumpet. When there is a prolonged blast of the horn and you hear its sound, have all the people give a mighty shout… Then the city wall will collapse, and the people will advance, each man straight ahead.” (Joshua 6:3-5)
Again, God gave them instructions for victory that included a spiritual aspect being done prior to the actual physical movement. Folks, ain’t much changed today. If our house isn’t order with God then nothing is going to fall into place. If you’ve been wandering around the wilderness for a little minute then maybe it’s time to renew your covenant with God. Start by circumcising your heart. You know, remove that old skin that has grown around it because it’s keeping God and everybody else out. Then listen for your marching orders. As bizarre as they may be it’s His direction for your life and the plan will work. When you take the final march and give the shout those walls are gonna fall and then you can go to war because you’ll be built up, strengthened, renewed – ready! Go get ’em, you can do it!
PRAYER:
Lord, I submit myself to You today. Forgive me for my stubbornness and disobedience. I pray for a renewed relationship with You. Teach me Your ways so that I can gain the victory in my life and bring You all the glory. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen. |
