The Lord ordered Joshua to have the sons of Israel circumcised in preparation to inherit the Promised Land…
“At that time, the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel…” “So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed. Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.’ Therefore, the name of the place is called Gilgal (Rolling) to this day.” [1]
Moses had given the people the spiritual significance of circumcision before this day when he wrote, “And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” [2] It was a dethroning of the flesh’s desires to enthrone the spirit’s desire to love God.
Paul spoke of circumcision in a similar fashion, when he wrote, “A Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.” [3] Circumcision was to be done for God’s praise as an expression of a man’s love for and dedication to God.
The apostle describes baptism as a circumcision of Christ; a burial of the sinful self and a resurrection by the power of God as a sanctified self; a person being set apart by God for His use instead one’s own selfish use: “In Him [Christ] also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him [Christ] in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him [Christ] through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Him [Christ] from the dead.” [4]
Passover and Christ
The Lord led His people to observe the Passover before they took possession of the Promised Land: “Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal and kept the Passover on the 14th day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho. And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day.” [5]
Passover is symbolic of Jesus delivering those who trust in Him from the slavery and penalty of sin. Egypt is not just a geographical location it is also a state of mind: “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” “You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” [6]
“Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.” [7] Manna is symbolic of the Bible that came down from God and fed our souls. Once, we enter the Promised Land of eternal paradise, we no longer need Bibles because we are with Him to whom the Bible bears witness. Our pilgrimage is over. We are in New Jerusalem.
After circumcision and Passover, the Commander of the Lord’s armies met Joshua. After baptism and recognizing Christ’s atoning sacrifice for our sins, Jesus, the Commander of God’s army appears to us in the Scripture more brilliantly than He ever did before. By His Word He leads us onto victory over every foe and brings us into the Heavenly Promised Land which is eternal. Praise the Lord!
“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, ‘Are You for us or for our adversaries?’ So, He said, ‘No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.’” [8]
This is what Peter was talking about during his Pentecost message: “Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” [9] Jesus is the Messiah, the One who completes the Old Testament stories.
The impact of Peter’s message was that his listeners were convicted of their need to do something, “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’” [10]
Peter urged them to repent of sin, be baptized and to receive the Holy Spirit: “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’” [11]
The people who believed, responded with action: “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” [12]
The apostles’ doctrine that they studied, the fellowship that they enjoyed, the bread that they broke and the prayers that they prayed were due to being born again into a new and lively hope via God’s Messiah, Jesus His Son. Praise the Lord!
[1] Joshua 5:2, 8-9
[2] Deuteronomy 30:6
[3] Romans 2:29
[4] Colossians 2:11-12
[5] Joshua 5:10-11
[6] 1 Corinthians 5:7; John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18–19
[8] Joshua 5:13-14
[9] Acts 8:36
[10] Acts 8:37
[11] Acts 2:38-39
[12] Acts 2:41-42
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