Thoughts on Joshua 5
And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
Deuteronomy 30:6 (NKJV)
In yesterday’s reading, we highlighted PERSISTENCE as a necessary key to creating a new beginning. Following on the heels of this, Chapter 5 reveals another key- circumcision
The rite of circumcision marked Israel’s position as God’s covenant people. In Gen 17:13, when God made the original covenant with Abraham, He required that each male be circumcised as a sign of cutting off the old life and beginning a new life with God.
Fast forward to the present, the people of God on the verge of possessing the Promised land needed adequate preparation of hearts and a willingness to submit to God’s directions as they embarked on the great task ahead. Relating this to the present means recognising that a similar demand of God on our generation is not outdated or obsolete.
In order not to make the same mistakes of their fathers, who lost their access to the Promised Land because of disobedience and unbelieving hearts, the Lord reiterated to Joshua the same instructions that was earlier given by Moses in Deuteronomy 30:6.
We also must be cautious not to casually dismiss or overlook these lessons but apply them. As Jordan parted before them, the children of Israel put the setbacks, disappointments and past failures behind them welcoming a new opportunity available to conquer new territories, break barriers and create the future they have been promised.
While we have the promise of His rest, we likewise must rid ourselves of dead consciences by becoming circumcised in our hearts and prioritising relentlessly the pursuit of a secure and meaningful relationship with our Father.
No matter the onslaught of the enemy,Victory is assured already as the Commander of the Lord’s army is already in position to lead us in triumphant procession. The One who gave the promises has shown continous commitment to our course and He will not relent. Joshua 5:1 is an attestation to this…
When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived along the Mediterranean coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan River so the people of Israel could cross, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear because of them
These were the same people that made Israel to lose heart and ridden with fear after hearing the negative report of the ten spies ( Numbers 13 &14).
Let’s for a moment take our minds back to the first Prophetic word for 2023 from God through our G.O Rev(Dr) PJA Olaiya. “Your mouth will be filled with laughter and your tongue with singing because the Lord has overthrew all that made you sorrow. Even the headens will say the Lord has done great things for you.”
Yes, the first half of the year may have gone without covering much ground, but let us embrace the remaining half with a renewed encouragement from today’s chapter, let us re-appraise our individual consecration to God as a key to entering a phase of manifestation of all He has promised.
So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.