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Joshua 5:1-3

Lesson # Josh. 5:1-3
Study Material - Josh. 5:1-3

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Josh. 5:1-3

1 Now it came about when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed, that their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer, because of the sons of Israel. 2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, 'Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time.' 3 So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.

Well now. Here we are at a place called Gibeath-haaraloth. What do you suppose that it means?

Too often when we are studying the Bible we come across terms that have to do with - a - personal things. Sometimes it is a term used for something personal, like a part of the anatomy, or possible something personal like going potty against a wall, as in the case of our eventual study of David which will reveal his attitude toward the males of his enemy.

Too often people get the idea that the Christian person cannot say 'tough' words or expressions. Some folks think of them as vulgar, or they feel that certain thing should not be said in mixed company, or some such thing.

But here we have circumcision mentioned yet again. And Gibeath-haaraloth means 'hill of the foreskins'. Now over 600,000 men, plus this time probably many thousands of male children will be circumcised. A bloody affair indeed. And this is not the first command. This is the second time that this command has been given by God to have all males circumcised. The first time was with Abraham, and Abraham complied without hesitation, as did all of his camp. Abraham had it a little tougher though. Abraham had never heard of this ritual, or better put, surgical procedure. Wouldn't it seem rather weird or crude to obey or even hear of such a command being given by God? After all that is rather close to the personal!! Not the heart, but you know what I mean.

So here we are, having just crossed to Jordan in yet another miracle. Facing a huge enemy, more numerous and more powerful than the Israelites, and certainly better equipped and better trained. But God commands the circumcision or no one will go even one step further.

Is it the act of the surgery, or the faith behind the act? What is God after anyway?

The enemy has seen the Israelites wandering back and forth through the desert for forty years now. The inhabitants of Canaan know of the defeat of Egypt, of the miracles, of the manna and meat and the water provided to such a huge population, even in the desert. No one could survive in the desert for forty years, let alone an entire nation. Then the Jordan is dried up, the upstream side is blocked by an invisible wall of water, and the nation of Israel crosses over on dry ground. More than two million people now, with all their flocks, herds, and so forth. Quite a procession. And now they were camped in the plain of Jericho.

The circumcision would make the nation vulnerable. After all, the men would be incapacitated for a few days. You have to use your imagination here. And the hill grew quickly.

On the one hand you have man of faith not even hesitating in this ritual. Women of faith participating in the ritual as well, for the Hebrew words are the feminine. The circumcision is, 'to have cut away', and the hill is also in the feminine. The women built the hill as it were. Ordinarily when a woman has a knife in her hand you would not want to stand still, but this is a very serious act of faith for both man and woman. Remember Moses wife, who called him a bloody fellow in so many words. Moses wife (his first wife that is) was certainly not a woman of faith. Yet these women of the nation were. They were raised in this crossing over generation, and saw the pillar of cloud and fire leading the nation on a daily basis for all of their lives.

The older generation, as we will see, did not obey Gods commands, despite all of the written documents that Moses provided for them, despite all of the provisions that God gave them for forty years, despite all of the miracles that they witnessed. They were still disobedient. Now a generation has grown up, not having seen the miracles, but only hearing of them, and they do not hesitate in obeying this command of circumcision. They knew nothing of it since it was not practiced for these forty years in the desert. Probably they heard of it, maybe, but none had seen it practiced.

On the other hand, we have the Canaanites cowering in their anxiety. They are a defeated people, yet they have all of the human advantages - experience, weapons, home turf. Imagine the look in their eyes if they were commanded to circumcise themselves. They would probably think it not serious, and laugh. Didn't Lots sons laugh at him when he told all that they had to leave because God was going to judge the city?

People without spiritual assets find everything spiritual as something totally fearful, or something to ridicule and mock. They do not see the value of Bible study. They do not see the value of God and His word. Their eyes are fixed on the things of the world. They think of themselves as practical. Have to hustle in life to get ahead. Have the beat out all competitors in order to get ahead. Have to look out for number one in order to survive. Elbows and sweat, or perhaps knowing the right people or using a little deceit to gain their victory, is the extent of the unspiritual persons thought process.

The Israelites are vulnerable, from the human viewpoint, but totally protected from the Divine viewpoint. What God protects, no one can threaten, nor take advantage of. What God does not protect (the Canaanites, anyone who does not have Bible doctrine), there is only fear, misery, and eventual doom.

Now is the time to post a prayer.

End Of Lesson

Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.

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