Be Strong and Courageous:
Today I have Rolled Away the Reproach of Egypt
God is preparing both Joshua and Israel to take the Promised Land. God has made it clear that he is leading them and will never leave or forsake them. His mighty works have demonstrated his faithfulness. His most recent miracle, the crossing of the Jordan, has been memorialized by a heap of twelve stones taken from middle of the Jordan from the very place where the priests stood during the crossing. These are to serve as a reminder of God’s power and goodness from generation to generation.
In Sunday’s study, we will discuss three distinct, yet interrelated, events Israel experienced as a part of their preparation – the circumcision of those born during the wilderness wanderings, their first Passover in the Promised Land, and their enjoyment of Canaan’s first fruits.
Joshua 5:2-12 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 desert on the way after leaving Egypt. 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the desert during the journey from Egypt had not. 6 The Israelites had moved about in the desert 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 that he had solemnly promised their fathers 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 of the produce of Canaan.
With their feet firmly in Canaan, Israel was “coming of age.” It was time to break with the past and set their minds on the future. These three events mark this occasion.
Circumcision was the mark of the Covenant given to Abraham and his children. This had been neglected during their forty years in wilderness. This mark identified them as God’s people.
The Passover was a feast kept in memorial of their deliverance from the final plague brought upon Egypt. It’s observance before their exodus from Egypt and now after their entry into the Promised Land bookends and brings closure to their desert experience.
Finally, partaking in the produce of the land, fulfilled God’s promise of a “land flowing with milk and honey.” This is further indicated by the end of the miraculous supply of manna.
Together, these events signify a break with 400 years of oppression and 40 years of wandering. Now they can set their hearts on what God had in store for them in their new home.
Be Strong and Courageous! Joey
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