Before You Call…

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Majestic God, I am open to You and longing for You. Reclaim, renew, re-enliven my heart with love and devotion.

Read Joshua 5:1–12

^[1] Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites. ^[2] At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” ^[3] So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. ^[4] 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. ^[5] All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. ^[6] 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. ^[7] 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. ^[8] And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed. ^[9] 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. ^[10] On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. ^[11] The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. ^[12] 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.

Meditate

The Lord’s “compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22,23).

Think Further

At times, battles are won and problems solved before we even realize it.

For the kings on the other side of the Jordan, the news that the Lord had dried up the river,

allowing the Israelites to cross into their territory, was enough to stop any retaliation. Their

“hearts melted in fear” (1). According to Rahab, they had lost the will to fight even before the

invasion (2:11, CEV). But it wasn’t the 40,000 troops that was the decider for them, it was that

the Lord was at work. Do you worry unnecessarily then find that God has gone ahead of you?

For Israelite males, at least, a different fear was incipient: God instructed Joshua to circumcise

them all (2)! The surviving males born in Egypt (the men of war had all died) had been

circumcised already (5), but those born during the forty years in the wilderness had not. In any

case, it seems that the circumcision in Egypt was not adequate ritually, hence the Lord’s

reference to “the reproach of Egypt” (9). So, Joshua made flint knives (because flint was readily

available, or possibly because it was the custom to use flint rather than metal knives) and the

whole nation was circumcised (8). In the circumstances, the second part of verse 8 is not too

surprising.

This was significant for the whole nation because they could at last celebrate the

Passover—circumcision and Passover were connected historically (Exod. 12:44). The Passover

celebrated God’s deliverance of them from Egypt and now they did it with firsthand experience

of another deliverance! Imagine the excitement after all these years. This really was a turning

point. And to make the point absolutely clear, on the following day they ate food produced in

Canaan and the supply of manna stopped. God’s faithfulness was utterly clear to them.

At times, battles are won and problems solved before we even realize it. For the kings on the other side of the Jordan, the news that the Lord had dried up the river, allowing the Israelites to cross into their territory, was enough to stop any retaliation. Their “hearts melted in fear” (1). According to Rahab, they had lost the will to fight even before the
invasion (2:11, CEV). But it wasn’t the 40,000 troops that was the decider for them, it was that the Lord was at work. Do you worry unnecessarily then find that God has gone ahead of you? For Israelite males, at least, a different fear was incipient: God instructed Joshua to circumcise them all (2)! The surviving males born in Egypt (the men of war had all died) had been circumcised already (5), but those born during the forty years in the wilderness had not. In any
case, it seems that the circumcision in Egypt was not adequate ritually, hence the Lord’s reference to “the reproach of Egypt” (9). So, Joshua made flint knives (because flint was readily available, or possibly because it was the custom to use flint rather than metal knives) and the whole nation was circumcised (8). In the circumstances, the second part of verse 8 is not too surprising. This was significant for the whole nation because they could at last celebrate the Passover—circumcision and Passover were connected historically (Exod. 12:44). The Passover celebrated God’s deliverance of them from Egypt and now they did it with firsthand experience of another deliverance! Imagine the excitement after all these years. This really was a turning point. And to make the point absolutely clear, on the following day they ate food produced in Canaan and the supply of manna stopped. God’s faithfulness was utterly clear to them.

Apply

How have you experienced God’s faithfulness? Why not plan a special meal with friends and family to celebrate?

Closing prayer

Lord, I renew my vows of love and devotion to You. Forgive my wavering and faithlessness. Draw me back to Your pathway for my life.

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