The purpose of the scripture is not just to inform us, but to transform us!
At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. —Joshua 5:2-3
Circumcision was a physical sign of one’s consecration, or preparation, or one’s devotion to the purpose of God in and through their lives.
A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God. —Romans 2:28-29
Circumcision is a matter of the heart’s devotion.
Circumcision is a cutting away of the flesh’s desires and a subjugating of them to the things of the spirit.
Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed. —Joshua 5:4-8
Every generation and every individual must pay the price to possess the promise.
This generation is poised to inherit all the promises of God if we will circumcise ourselves. Cut away the flesh and be about our father’s business
Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day. —Joshua 5-9
No longer is it, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow I will do amazing things among you”, now it is “Today”!
On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan. —Joshua 5:10-12
Discussion Questions
Read Joshua 5:2-12
1. What is circumcision? What was its purpose?
Read Romans 2:25-29
2. What does the Apostle Paul say about circumcision and how it applies to us?
3. What is the significance of them Circumcising AGAIN?
4. Have you ever experienced trying to ride the coattails of your parents, spouse, coworkers or classmates? How or when did you recognize that you had to make a commitment yourself? Tell us about it. How did things change once you personally committed?
5. What do you think the significance is of verses 9-12?
Pray for one another:
Take some time to reflect on how God has been faithful to provide (manna) your daily needs even in the time of waiting. Then pray and give thanks for that.
Give people an opportunity to confess areas where they may need to cut away some things of the flesh that may be keeping them from possessing their tomorrow.
Give people an opportunity to make their personal commitment to God instead of relying on the commitments of others.