Joshua chapter 5 is about circumcision. All of Israel's soldiers submit to debilitating elective outpatient surgery, just as battle with Jericho looms before them! This doesn't make any sense, on a human level. But, if their success only comes from relationship with God, it does.
They are willing to lay aside their own strength and ability. They intend to enter this battle standing in the strength of their covenant relationship with God. The procedure itself was not the issue, but the devotion and dependence it indicated (Gen 17:8-10; Jer 4:4).
Philippians 3:3 says, "For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on the flesh [or who we are naturally]."
Abilities are good, but how do we rely on our natural human abilities when we should be relying on God and His promise?
Maybe this is an uncomfortable topic, not because of the procedure involved, but because of its implications on our dependence upon God...what self reliance must I lay aside?
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So this reminds me of our troops that are preparing for battles. We would be inclined to strengthen our bodies by working out, eating right and getting plenty of rest. These are human things to strengthen the body. But God is setting forth quite the opposite.. do this very thing that will set you apart, and do it in a time that makes you vulnerable. When a soldier is preparing for deployment, surgery, which greatly reduces his physical stamina is the last thing he wants to do. So God is preparing these men to show their reliance on Him. Having faith in Christ is not merely a natural thing. Its a spiritual challenge that God gives these men. The scenario is not much different in our spiritual walk. Though we may not be facing a physical battle, we are taught to trust God and wait on Him. Placing our trust in Him means that we will step aside our own abilities and trust in God to show us the path we must travel. All the while He can use our abilities to achieve His will for our lives and those around us. We must have faith that He will provide... that He will lead us in ways that bring forth His fruits. This is all much easier said than done. Many times in my life.. most of the time in fact, I dont understand what God is doing. When I sense that I am to "sit down and shut up", that is unnatural for me. But when I do, I can really appreciate what God is doing and how God is doing it.
Hello :)
In our study in Joshua 5,
I see reference to "3 days" in Joshua 10-12.
-The evening of the 14th they celebrated Passover.
-The day after (15th) they ate of the land.
-After they ate(16th),the manna stopped but that year they ate produce of Canaan
It seems a forshadow of Christs coming and a type of rehersal of the Exodus Passover. Are there more details to be linked and do I need to keep digging or have I got it?
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