Circumcision at Gilgal Joshua 5

 

Circumcision at Gilgal

Joshua 5

At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.”  So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeah Haaraloth.

 Now this is why he did so:  All those who came out of Egypt–all the men of military age died in the desert on the way after leaving Egypt.  All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the desert during the journey from Egypt had not…

And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were encamped until they were healed.  Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.”  So this place has been called Gilgal to this day.        Joshua 5:2-5; 8-9

 

 Although the children of Israel had miraculously crossed through the flooded Jordan River, they still had one final major action to accomplish before they began their conquest of the Promised Land. As Chris taught us on Sunday, out of the thousands of babies born in the wilderness, not one of them had been circumcised.  This was important, because like our baptism, circumcision was the visible sign of being part of God’s family. Whether out of neglect or disobedience, the nation had failed to keep the practice that was the sign of the covenant relationship with God. Before they could step out in faith, they must be both outwardly and inwardly identified with God.

The Lord’s orders to Joshua had been clear. He commanded Joshua to make flint knives in order to circumcise every male baby born in the wilderness.  As mothers turned their eyes and babies cried and screamed, Joshua and the priests slowly but methodically undertook their grim task. For those older, it must have been even worse because every male under the age of forty had to be circumcised. Scripture indicates that at the time, there were six hundred thousand males who were twenty years old and above. These six hundred thousand men had not been circumcised before. Despite the inevitable pain, they all obeyed the Lord and underwent circumcision. There were more than six hundred thousand foreskins removed from more than six hundred thousand men, boys and children that day. Those foreskins literally piled up to make a hill, which is why the place was called the hill of foreskins. This is a sign of their full obedience to the Lord.

What lessons can you and I learn from this story of mass obedience at Gilgal?

First, our entrance into our Promised Land is normally followed by an intense period of God’s dealings. Our response to these dealings is critical because they will determine our ability to prosper in the new place God has given us.

Second, like the children of Israel who were born in the wilderness, many Christians have been born outside the ways and teachings of the church and God’s Kingdom.  Unlike children born into a Christian home, many of these children and adults have no real concept of God or His ways. If they are ever to become productive citizens of God’s Kingdom, it is vital that they receive what was lacking from their childhood through discipleship and mentoring.  Discipleship may be the greatest challenge for the Church today.

Third, even as the uncircumcised males had to allow other men to work in the most private areas of their lives, so spiritually you and I must do the same.  We must allow godly men and women, depending on our gender, to apply the Word of God to our most sensitive and private areas.

Whether these areas are financial, sexual, emotional, or relational, it is important to remember part of discipleship is the willingness to give other mature Christians access to your life.