July 28 2019
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1 As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.
2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. 4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt. 5 Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised. 6 For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord; the Lord swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.
8 When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed. 9 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.
10 While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho. 11 And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Last week we talked about how God’s people reached the edge of the Jordan river, which was the boundary to the promised land, the land that God was giving to Israel. We talked about the fact that the water was at flood stage and that the people were to follow the ark and that when the priests who were carrying the ark put their feet in the water that the waters of the Jordan parted, just like they did for Moses and the Red Sea.
The people crossed over and as long as the priests feet were in the water holding the ark, the water stood up in a heap.
I would love to have seen this display. I hope that when we are in heaven we get to see the video of that scene.
The people going across and participating in that miracle.
Remember that when all the people had crossed that God told Joshua to instruct 12 men, one from each tribe to pick up a stone, put it on their shoulder and put it down where they were camping so that they would be reminded of what God did for them.
So who knows? Maybe when things got tough in the land, if they happened to want to cross back into the wilderness they might run into that memorial and remember that it was God who brought them here by a miracle.
Last week I asked you to pick up a stone and take it home as a memorial, to remember what God has done in your life. I think everybody participated and took a stone.
This week we are going to talk about the first thing that God has them do on the other side. The very first thing they are to do in the promised land;
Do they sharpen their swords? Do they polish the shields? Do they study maps and cities to know who to target first?
No, not at all. They don’t do any of those things. Even though you would think that they should adopt a military strategy, they don’t do any of that.
In fact, they are called to go under the knife, they are to get an operation… they are to get circumcised. It is interesting that this happens as soon as they cross over into that enemy territory, into the land that they will have to conquer.
Remember, they will face war. They have to win the land, but God promised them that the land is theirs and that He will be with them.
1 As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.
2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. 4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt. 5 Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised. 6 For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord; the Lord swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.
8 When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed. 9 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.
Joshua 5:
When we read this account we need to do so with the understanding that God is a God of promise, He is a God of covenant.
A covenant, if you don’t remember is a contract between two parties. God made a covenant with Israel which started way back with Abraham, the first of their descendents.
Now one of the first covenants we see in Scripture is the Abrahamic covenant found in Genesis. God calls Abraham out of nowhere and promises to him that God will make him into a great nation, even though he is old and has no kids.
13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.
14 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever.
Then God gets more specific and tells Abe exactly what land he is giving him.
18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”
Genesis
Sound familiar? It is the same thing God told Moses, the same thing God is telling Joshua. He is a God of covenant which is a binding contract. God is bound by this contract… And part of that contract is the rite of circumcision. Explained in Genesis
9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
So this is important, obviously, especially when we are talking about Old Testament, before Jesus times. This was what God required. He required circumcision for the Jews and anyone who wanted to be identified with the Jews.
It wasn’t, ‘I just want to sign up for this’, no, this is a commitment to say the least.
And God’s people, the Israelites, had not been doing it while they were walking in the wilderness for 40 years. They hadn’t kept up their responsibility. Doesn’t say why they didn’t, we just know they didn’t.
They were in disobedience. God’s covenant of them taking the land was linked to this rite.
This was such a big deal that God was about to kill Moses because he didn’t circumcise his son.
23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’ ”
24 At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death.
24 At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death.
Exodus 4 24
25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.
This story reminds us of how serious God is regarding His covenants.
Circumcision is part of that covenant that identifies God’s people with Him. It is very important. But The timing for God to bring this up now is curious, though.
Reminded of the covenant God has with His people. Circumcision is part of that covenant that identifies God’s people with Him. It is very important. The timing is curious though.
Those men were vulnerable, they weren’t able to fight.
So when God calls all the men of Israel to get circumcised, after they cross over the Jordan into enemy territory; that is a big deal. Because after they do this, They will never be more vulnerable than they are right now, they will never be weaker, they will never be as immobile as a people then they are right now. They are sitting ducks for the enemy and yet this is what God calls them to do.
It is like God is doubling down on their faith.
Here is the weird thing. You know what circumcision is right? You are taking a knife to the most sensitive part of a man’s body. It’s kind of a big deal. And the people that crossed probably remember a story about another battle that happened that they won because of circumcision. They used circumcision as a weapon.
In . A man from a non-Israelite tribe man raped an Israelite woman because he couldn’t wait to get married. The man asked the girls father if he could marry her, creating an alliance between the two tribes and the brothers who knew about the rape agreed to the marriage.
You wouldn’t think they would agree because of the horrible thing the man did. Until you hear that the brothers said, she could marry him if, if, the whole town of men be circumcised. The town agreed, and while they were still healing, while they were still in pain two of the girls brothers came and killed all the men in the town.
So you see, that whole city was destroyed by two men because the whole group of men went under this operation and were incapacitated.
Israel would remember what happened to that city and you have to think that they would have thought about it.
But we don’t read anywhere that anyone protested. Believe me, I am sure that nobody wanted to go through it but we don’t see where anyone said anything negative. Maybe this people is starting to understand that God says what He means and He means what He says. Maybe after just experiencing the miracle they did they are willing to do whatever God wants.
But to do it right after they cross...
Wouldn’t it have made more sense to have this covenantal act of worship a month ago, out in the wilderness? Wouldn’t it have made more sense if they had this operation done in the safety of the desert? Wouldn’t it make more sense?
Wouldn’t it have made more sense to have this covenantal act of worship a month ago, out in the wilderness? Wouldn’t it have made more sense if they had this operation done in the safety of the desert? Wouldn’t it make more sense?
It would in the natural sense, it absolutely would.
You can trust God. God’s covenants are important.
Maybe God is showing them here that they really can trust Him. Not only does he part the waters of the Jordan but He has them perform these operations. It’s mind boggling.
Again, the aspect of ‘holiness’ takes precedence over the military preparedness.
And There is no rushing here. God is patient and whether we like it or not, sometimes God calls us to be patient too.
So God is preparing them.. spiritually first
God can really make us think sometimes can’t He? His promises are His promises and we think that we can work them out, we think we know the best way to navigate through life but God knows what He is doing.
Sometimes it feels like God can make things impossible just to show us how powerful He is. Because He is.
Joshua, you are now in enemy territory, I would like for you now to imobilize your entire army for 2 to 3 weeks.
I say 2-3 weeks because for an adult to be circumcised today, that is the recommended healing time. Now there is no way to know how long it took, God could have miraculously healed them, we don’t know. But it still makes no sense to take everyone out after they go into enemy territory.
But God is reminding them of the covenant with Abraham. And the covenant with Moses.
You are doing this because I said that all males who are mine shall have this operation done as a sign of the covenant that I made with Abraham. You can’t have one without the other.
God did a miracle to get them across, that miracle allowed them the time to do all this. Verse 1 TELLS US
1 As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.
They weren’t going anywhere near the Jews. They were scared to death of them. God even took care of that.
10 While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho. 11 And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
Joshua 5:10
They had the first passover in the Promised Land. Very significant. They are in the promised land and this is their first act of worship. They left Egypt after Passover, now they are celebrating it as they first come to it.
The New American Commentary: Joshua (2) Passover (5:10–12)
The Passover celebration in Joshua would now mark Israel’s entrance into Canaan just as it had earlier marked Israel’s exodus from Egypt.
Verse 12 says something really interesting. It says that the manna stops. God had been providing the manna for 40 years. Exodus calls it something like flakes, that tasted like coriander, like wafers made with honey. God supplied it. It came every morning and they didn’t know what it was. What is it? is the literal translation for word manna. It was supernaturally given by God.
The New American Commentary: Joshua (1) Circumcision (5:2–9)
Circumcision was an original sign of the covenant with Abraham
It was to keep the people from starving in the wilderness. How does God provide for us that we miss?
Gibeath-Haaraloth means ‘hill of foreskins”.
Manna
The Food. They eat the produce of the land and The manna had stopped Unleavened bread and roasted grain are “hurry up foods” they can be prepared quickly.
Israel was getting the land because of God. The land was to be “dedicated” to God. The people had to be prepared for moving into the land which means being in a “right relationship with God”, passover and circumcision.
This is your land that I am giving you says God and you need to be in a right relationship with me. And in order for you to be my people, you need to be set apart. You need to be distinct. You need to be circumcised.
That is a huge part of what this is about. The idea behind circumcision is all about setting ourselves apart for the Lord, to be different, distinctive. In the old testament it was a physical setting apart. There was no denying it.
It was physical. But it was also spiritual.
16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.
Deuteronomy
Jeremiah would later say the same thing
4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord;
remove the foreskin of your hearts,
O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem;
lest my wrath go forth like fire,
and burn with none to quench it,
because of the evil of your deeds.”
Jeremiah
So there is something spiritual that we look forward to.
We are still called to be set apart. We are still supposed to be people for Jesus and that means that we act different, sometimes we look different, but there should be a distinctiveness about us.
There are some who argue that baptism the modern day replacement of circumcision. I don’t necessarily agree with that because of grace.
Paul even talks about this in Romans 2
29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
But that is how many Christians live. They live so that no one will ever know. I spent years in hiding, I knew it was wrong but I didn’t want to be marked.
When a Jew went through the ritual of circumcision, they were following a command of the Lord. They were just being obedient.
They just did it. They obeyed God! And that is exciting to me because their obedience from our eyes makes no sense but they obeyed and God took care of them. When they obeyed, safety and God’s protection followed. God honors obedience to Him.
Now we don’t follow circumcision today as something we do because God told us to, but we still follow God’s commands. God still gives us commands, even in the New Testament.
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Matt
39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Can you imagine the territory you would conquer if you obeyed the commands of the Lord? Just those few?
Last week we talked about taking a rock as a memorial to remember what God has done in your life. Now, let’s think about the obedience of that group of Jews. Even though they were vulnerable, they obeyed God and God blessed them with His promises.
How is God calling you to be obedient to Him today? He has given us His word so we know what He commands.
Think about that for a minute. IS there an area where God is calling YOU to be obedient?
I prayed that the Holy Spirit would make this clear to you today, that you would know what it is that God is saying to you today. How are you supposed to be obedient today?
Maybe Some of you have never repented from sin. We excuse sin in our society. We think it is okay as long as no one sees, or if we do it behind closed doors.
We are called to repent but we never want to feel bad about anything even though the Holy Spirit wants us to repent, to turn in our thinking. Is there something in your life where God is telling you it has to stop? Please think about that today.
I will tell you this. God wants you to be obedient not so He can take something away from you, but so that he can bless you. Whatever sin you are hanging onto is hurting you and it is hurting your relationship with God and God doesn’t want that for you. He wants so much more for you but there is something that is getting in the way.
What is getting in the way for you?
Where are you holding back your obedience from God? Because God is calling you, He is chasing you down and it is simply because He loves you.
He sent Jesus to come and live a perfect life and to die a brutal death because of yours and my disobedience. And He conquered death 3 days later when He rose again.
Our job is to believe in Him to be the risen Son of God and to receive Him by faith as the only acceptable path to truth.
God I pray that you work boldly in us this morning. I pray Holy SPirit that you would convict and pull us and prod us until we become obedient to you. Lord, for some of us here this morning there is a sin that is keeping us from a beautiful life with you.
Please, Lord, tug at our hearts and give us the strength to confess and live for you.
In there is a story about a whole town that got was taken out because of circumcision. A man from a non-Israelite tribe man raped an Israelite woman because he couldn’t wait to get married. The man asked the girls father if he could marry her, creating an alliance between the two tribes and the brothers who knew about the rape agreed to the marriage.
You wouldn’t think they would agree because of the horrible thing the man did. Until you hear that the brothers said, she could marry him if, if, the whole town of men be circumcised. The town agreed, and while they were still healing, while they were still in pain two of the girls brothers came and killed all the men in the town.
Circumcision, physically is a really big deal.
So when God calls all the men of Israel to get circumcised, after they cross over the Jordan into enemy territory; that is a big deal. They are never more vulnerable than they are right now, they will never be weaker, as a people then they are right now. They are sitting ducks for the enemy and yet this is what God calls them to do.
God is doubling down on their faith.
Wouldn’t it have made more sense to have this covenantal act of worship a month ago, out in the wilderness? Wouldn’t it have made more sense if they had this operation done in the safety of the desert? Wouldn’t it make more sense?
It would in the natural sense, it absolutely would.
You can trust God. God’s covenants are important.
Maybe God is showing them here that they really can trust Him. Not only does he part the waters of the Jordan but He has them perform these operations. It’s mind boggling.
