©2003 Charles Darby
Josh 5:5-15  Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised. For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not show them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey. And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way. And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day. And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?  And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?  And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

Israel is finally out of the wilderness. It took them about 40 years. Their parents had all died in the wilderness, except Joshua and Caleb. Refusing to obey God will keep you in the wilderness! Will also bring death and will not get you into the promises of God.

The men who came out of Egypt had been circumcised but with them it did not result in changed lives. They griped and got the Lord to bring them out. When they got out they continued to gripe and complain. It's one thing for sinners to complain. It's another for the children of God to complain! This shows a lack of faith in God's ability to supply our every need. I have done it. Its O.K. for children to complain but we should not remain children. Let us grow up and put away childish things!

Israel is now across Jordan and into Canaan, ready to go into battle against their enemy. They are at Jericho, in sight of the enemy! God said the first thing I want you to do is circumcise all those who are going into battle. This generation had not yet been circumcised. In the natural this is the last thing a commander of an army would want to do. Disable all the fighting men?

We as children of God must learn we cannot defeat the enemies of our life until we commit our selves fully into God's care. The battle is not physical it's spiritual! We are to crucify the flesh and loose all confidence in our ability and rest in God's ability! When we do He can go with us into every battle and victory is assured!

After being circumcised they kept the passover, ate of the lamb. When we fully commit to the Lord and have a circumcised heart, now this new man desires to eat of the Word of God. Man does not live by bread alone but by every word of God. These have received of His blood and are washing daily in the word of God. These shall run and not grow weary, walk and not faint!

Now The Lord said to Joshua "This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you." When we get the flesh out of the way and eat of The Lamb all reproach of our past is gone!

Notice after this manna fell no more. There comes a time in all of our lives when God stops doing for us what we should do ourselves. Now they had to take their food from their enemies. We are not to let anything or anybody keep us from The Master's table. Come and dine the Master calleth; come and dine! Don't let anything keep you from fellowshiping with Our Lord.

Israel is ready for battle and now, after doing as God has said, Joshua sees a Man with a sword in His hand. Joshua asks "are you for us or for our enemy?" Notice His answer "no". Our Lord is for whom ever will do God's will. This man with the sword was none other than Jesus. Notice Joshua worshiped Him. We don't worship angels! This one said "the ground where you are is Holy ground!"  Take off your shoes. (Don't let anything be between you and holy ground.) Where Jesus is; is Holy ground and Jesus is in us so we must be Holy ground!

Some study the word to find out what they are entitled to. What are their benefits, what are their promises? At best this will lead to a legal relationship with The Lord if we don't get out of this frame of mind. The wife and I started out with a legal right to live together now we are together because we love each other! (53 years) A true love relationship is not concerned with what they can get but rather what can they give to the other!

Most sinners want all they can get and will do most any thing to get it; no matter who gets hurt. The child of God shouldn't be this way. Some in the church serve only to get something for themselves. They give to get. They study the word, buy tapes, etc., to find out what they can get. They come to church, serve the Lord only to get and if they don't get they will give up! Maybe most of us have been through this phase of our spiritual growth. Could we call it the teenage stage? These seem to forget that it is more blessed to give than to receive! We should ask so we will have more to give, more to serve with, etc..

These have not been in Pilot's Judgment Hall seeing Jesus being spit upon, whipped, crowned with thorns, having His beard plucked out. They have not seen Him on Calvary dripping out His very life's blood all for them! They have not seen or felt the rejection the humiliation Jesus felt as He hung there with nails in His hands and feet! The very pain of death for all of us. We were guilty, not Him.  Have you been there in the eyes of your understanding? Oh, what shall I render to Him for all His many benefits!

Paul said "I want to know Him in the power of His resurrection and in the fellowship of His suffering." Let us learn of The Master and grow up into to Him in all things.

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