“Get circumcision of the heart”
SRIPTURE
Joshua 5:2. At that time, the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.”
OBSERVATION
Summary
When the story of Israel’s safe crossing of the Jordan surprised the Gentile kings west of the Jordan, God ordered Joshua to circumcise Israel’s people, and Joshua circumcised.
Who is God
• God performs signs and wonders.
• God can alarm the world.
• God wants His people to be distinguished from the world and belong only to Him.
APPLICATION
God orders Joshua to circumcise the Israelites. When was that? It’s right after a huge victory. It was the time when the whole Israelis were excited to experience such a miracle. It’s the time when Israel was feared by surrounding nations and peoples. It was the time for the whole Israeli community to celebrate the miraculous victory. At this very time, God teaches them an important lesson that leads to the next victory.
The Israeli people were stationed in Gilgal just right in front of Jericho. God gave a difficult order for all soldiers who must fight on the battlefield to be circumcised right in front of the enemy camp. God was giving an incomprehensible order at the time when all soldiers should renew their strength. Joshua must have known through Moses because the Genesis had been already recorded at that time. Jacob’s sons offered circumcision to all the men in Shechem, and while the men in Shechem were being circumcised, they killed all men in Shechem, including the prince of Shechem. So Joshua must have known better than anyone else that circumcision could be a fatal weakness on the battlefield. However, Joshua immediately circumcised the people without delay.
What is circumcision? The circumcision God ordered to Abraham was a sign of the covenant that he entirely belonged to God. In the New Testament, however, Paul urged the Jews to get circumcised inwardly. What does the circumcision of the heart mean?
The circumcision was compared to baptism similarly in Col. 2:11-12. Like baptism, circumcision is a decision to deny the fleshly desire to belong to God more and become a man of spirit. In other words, circumcision of the heart means the death of self so that Christ lives in me.
It is a strange place where people get a circumcision. It may mean to prevent sexual crimes to stay holy. Holiness is the key to victory in the spiritual realm. God rejoices our holiness. God dwells in the heart of holy people. Pursue holiness in thoughts, words, and actions.
As Joshua obey and circumcised every man in the Israeli camp, God gave them victory after victory, for war belongs to God. When we are equipped with holiness, God could dwell in us and gives victory. The best decision we can make in the midst of battle must be to get circumcision of the heart.
Pastor Sharon Lee's QT 