Joshua five starts with a stunning demonstration of fear by pagan kings. Then moves to a painful rite and ends with the Israeli General on his face before Jesus Christ the Commander of the LORD's army. It is an interesting mix of events.
This important chapter tells the story of preparation for the Big Mission; that of conquest in God's Name. From verse two until nine, circumcision is described and explained. Usually this is a topic for private conversation. Here, however, it is performed on a nation. The reason Joshua spent so much ink on this topic is because it was of utmost importance.
Way back in Genesis seventeen God reiterates his covenant with the patriarch and adds a new symbol to remind him that it is going to cost him some skin.
The Abrahamic covenant was made between God and Abraham and was ratified by God to God. He was showing that it was a done deal that would never be broken. Later, however, he added circumcision to be a physical symbol of his promise.
The practice today has no religious or theological significance and is practiced more for hygienic reasons. Believers in Jehovah God the Father of Jesus Christ His son have had our hearts circumcised. One author describes the process like this:
Deuteronomy 30:6, “And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.” Here, the Bible tells us plainly that God will circumcise someone's heart. The result is a full love on our part toward God.
God's heart surgery is forever. Have you had it yet?
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