How does this act of obedience prepare Israel for entering the Promised Land? Setting the Scene • Israel has just crossed the Jordan on dry ground (Joshua 3–4). • Their first stop inside Canaan is Gilgal, a campsite only a few miles from Jericho. • Before a single battle is fought, God’s very first directive is not military strategy but covenant obedience. The Command at Gilgal “At that time the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel once again.’ ” (Joshua 5:2) • Every male born during the forty-year wilderness wanderings had missed the sign of the covenant (Joshua 5:5). • God orders the entire nation to submit to circumcision before moving an inch farther into the land He promised. A Renewal of Covenant Identity • Circumcision was first given to Abraham as the visible seal of God’s covenant (Genesis 17:9-14). • By obeying now, Israel publicly re-affirms: – “We belong to the LORD.” – “His covenant terms still stand.” • Verse 9 records God’s verdict after the surgery and healing: “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you” (Joshua 5:9). – Their shame of slavery is buried; they carry God’s brand instead. Marking a Clean Break from the Wilderness • The disobedient generation died outside the land (Numbers 14:29-35). • This new generation starts fresh with the fundamental sign their fathers neglected. • Circumcision draws a line in the sand: past unbelief is over; future conquest begins in obedience. Training Hearts for Total Dependence • Circumcision left every fighting man temporarily disabled (Joshua 5:8). • With Jericho’s soldiers only a short march away, Israel is defenseless unless the LORD protects them. • The lesson: victory in Canaan will never hinge on human strength but on trust in God’s promises (cf. Deuteronomy 8:17-18; Psalm 20:7). Ready for Battle God’s Way • After healing, Israel immediately celebrates the Passover (Joshua 5:10-12). • Only circumcised males could eat the Passover (Exodus 12:48). • The sequence—circumcision, Passover, conquest—sets the spiritual order: 1. Covenant obedience 2. Covenant fellowship 3. Covenant victory Foreshadowing Deeper Circumcision • The physical act anticipates a heart work God desires for every believer: “Circumcise your hearts” (Deuteronomy 10:16; cf. Jeremiah 4:4). • New-covenant fulfillment comes when Christ “performs a circumcision not done by hands” (Colossians 2:11-13). • Yet the literal event in Joshua 5 remains historically true, anchoring the symbol in real time and space. Key Takeaways for Today • God often prepares His people for new territory by calling them back to neglected basics. • Obedience precedes effective service; identity precedes activity. • Willingness to appear weak in obedience invites God’s unmistakable power. • The God who kept His covenant at Gilgal still equips every surrendering heart to walk into promised victories. |
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