Circumcision and Passover Celebration (Joshua 5:1-12)

This passage teaches us the most important doctrine in Christianity. It’s about our Lord Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection from the dead. Circumcision stands for the death of Christ and our death with him. The Passover celebration was never observed during the journey in the wilderness because there was no fulfillment and satisfaction in life. But when they entered the land of God’s rest and performed the painful surgery of circumcision, they celebrated the Passover. No death, no resurrection. Read and understand carefully the Scriptures as our God speaks to Joshua.

Now when all the Amorite kings and all the Canaanite kings heard that the Israelites crossed the Jordan, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had courage to face them (Joshua 5:1). When God acts no one can reverse it. When God acts no person is free from being melted in fear. This was happened not only for them but for all of us that we may fear God because it is the duty of mankind (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Every new day is not coming automatically although it seems like it is. Our body is not functioning naturally although it seems like it is. Every day is running and our body is functioning not naturally but miraculously by the power of God. It is impossible not to fear him when we see that he is such a God in our midst. Right after crossing the Jordan, Joshua circumcised the Israelites. That was the first thing God commanded to Joshua.

“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 Gibeath Haaraloth.” (Joshua 5:2-3)

What is circumcision? Circumcision is to remove the foreskin of male sex organ. It’s a simple surgery but painful and leaves the patient almost immobile for a week until the healing and recovery. The first circumcision was commanded in the Scripture for Abraham and his household to obey when he was ninety-nine years old. It was the sign of the covenant between God and man (Genesis 17:11). The covenant was that God would bless Abraham as the father of many nations, God would make him fruitful and the kings would come from him, and God would give the whole land of Canaan as an everlasting possession. To seal the covenant God commanded Abraham to circumcise him and all his male household.

Circumcision is a surgical process to expose the hidden part of male sex organ, which represents the hidden human ego. Humanity has been infiltrated and contaminated by the poisonous disease called sin since the fall of man, Adam. Thus, regardless of tremendous efforts and endeavors invested and made by the human race from the beginning, the level of morality in human society has not been improved even a bit. The sin of man must be paid off by death only. That’s what circumcision stands for, the death of man in Christ Jesus.

In the covenant, the subject of giving blessings to humanity is God and man is to receive his blessings. God commanded man to make a sign to remember the covenant between him and man in the form of circumcision which required a painful surgery. Obeying the commandment of God means to expose the hidden ego as it is to be seen by man on daily basis. God inscribed his covenant in such a way as a daily reminder because without admitting the hidden sin within, the covenant had no value. Jesus says that unless we eat his flesh and drink his blood there is no life in us (John 6:53). We’re ever in need of Jesus Christ who is the true living bread and true drink (John 6:55). No death in Christ, no resurrection life in us. That’s the reason God commanded the Israelites to circumcise before facing the enemy, the city of Jericho, although it could be a dangerous moment for the enemy. So, Joshua obeyed and circumcised the Israelites.

“Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness 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 he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 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. And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.” (Joshua 5:4-8)

The reason why he circumcised the people because all the new born in the wilderness during the journey had not been circumcised. Although the old generation had been circumcised they were not allowed to enter the land since they had not obeyed the Lord. It is significant to note that physical circumcision is not a deposit guaranteeing for entering the land flowing with milk and honey. Another important point is when the new generation was circumcised. It was not before crossing the Jordan but after entering the land and setting their foot on it. Although they were not circumcised physically God allowed them to cross the Jordan and enter the land because they obeyed the Lord. God teaches his people that true circumcision is not circumcision of body by human hand but that of the heart by the Spirit (Romans 2:29).

“Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.” (Romans 2:25-27)

Although God commanded to circumcise, the physical mark cannot be a deposit guaranteeing the favor of God. It has no value if they do not obey God in heart and mind. Even if they are not circumcised physically and obey God they are considered as circumcised in Christ.

“Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.” (Galatians 6:15)

Then the Lord God said to Joshua the most remarkable statement that God had rolled away the reproach of Egypt from them. God made them alive through the death of the Son Jesus Christ.

“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. On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 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 the produce of Canaan.” (Joshua 5:9-12)

God then said to Joshua that God had rolled away the reproach of Egypt from them. Egypt stands for in the Scripture the flesh which refuses to submit to the Lord God. So, the reproach of Egypt means the state of influence and control by the flesh. That’s where the Israelites were in Egypt under the iron grip of King Pharaoh. They were in the slavery labor, being treated harshly and severely over four centuries. They were robbed of the basic freedom as human beings and forced into bone-crushing labor, let alone as the chosen people of God, descendants of his promise. So, the place was named Gilgal which means God rolled away the reproach of Egypt.

Then they celebrated the Passover and that very day they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. What is Passover? It’s the day of deliverance from the bondage of slavery in Egypt over four centuries. It’s the day of the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:13). On due time, God acted and sent the angel of death to the whole land of Egypt and killed all the firstborns of every household including King, the nobles, the peasants, and the slaves except the household of Israel who obeyed Moses and killed the animals and put the blood on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they ate the lambs (Exodus 12:7). It’s the day of great liberation for the people of Israel by the power of Almighty God.

During the journey in the wilderness they never celebrated the Passover. Why did they not? It wasn’t intended for them to wonder around the desert forty years. They chose not to enter the land but to stay in the wilderness because of their unbelief and disobedience. The journey was a long funeral procession because all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had perished in the desert. About seventy men on average died every day. No wonder they kept on moving one place to another. The journey was not a victorious march but a depressing defeat. Who could be satisfied and fulfilled in the wilderness? The journey in the wilderness must have been difficult, dry, empty, lonely, powerless, unsatisfactory, wearisome, exhausted, and unfulfilled. It must’ve been impossible for them to celebrate the Passover.

The journey in the wilderness exactly represents our Christian experience. The born again experience produces the exquisite joy and delight caused by the liberation and deliverance from the powerful influence and contamination of the evil one through the blood of Jesus Christ the Lord. It’s the perfectly legitimate and normal response of every new Christian. It happened to the people of Israel that they couldn’t help but dancing and singing in loud noise and joy after the cross of the Red Sea. But soon or later the wilderness experience overshadows almost every new Christians that they begin to experience the old life of failure and sin which nauseate and irritate them greatly. They even doubt of the deliberation of Christ Jesus. They thought that they couldn’t fall any longer since they received Jesus the Lord. But in reality they do experience sinning and falling again and again.

This is called the journey in the wilderness. Although it isn’t intended to experience, it is inevitably coming because of unbelief and disobedience. The people of Israel could enter the land in forty days, not forty years after crossing the Red Sea. However, they bluntly refused to enter and take possession of the land which God promised to give to the forefathers. God never allowed them to enter the land of his rest, so all perished in the wilderness. Listen to the serious warning recorded in the Book of Hebrews.

“So, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, “Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.” So I declared on oath in my anger, “They shall never enter my rest.”’” (Hebrews 3:7-11)

But our God allowed the new generation to enter the land and take possession of it because they obeyed him. Likewise, we can enter the land of his rest only when we completely submit ourselves and obey him. It is significant that the celebration of the Passover only came after the circumcision. Again circumcision stands for the death of our Lord Jesus Christ as well as our death with Christ. Jesus says that he is the way, the truth, and the life and no one can come to the Father except through him (John 14:6). There is no other way to come to his rest unless we die with Christ. No wonder the author of Hebrews urges the followers of Christ to make every effort to enter the rest of God.

“Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:11-12)

Some might ask what really the rest means. Is it doing nothing? Absolutely not! It is indeed an intense battle against the flesh. The flesh of humanity vehemently rejects and refuses the terms that we can enter the rest only through death. It insists exactly the opposite that there is a way to save ourselves without death. It’s the lie which deceived humanity from the beginning. People desire to satisfy the flesh and follow the lie of the devil. But the Spirit of God is contrary to what the flesh desires. The Spirit desires to obey to the will of the Father in heaven.

“For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” (Galatians 5:17)

Our Lord Jesus set the example when he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. There was a strange struggle visibly observed in our Lord’s attitude that he experienced the extreme pressure to pass the cup of suffering if possible. It’s because God the Father made him who had no sin to be sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). It was the most intense battle for our Lord Jesus to obey the will of the Father. That’s the reason being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him (Luke 22:43-44).

“He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ’Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’” (Luke 22:41-42)

The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land and there was no longer any manna for them but that year they ate the produce of Canaan. The manna wasn’t the food God intended to give permanently but just temporarily. It’s a teaching tool to impress in their hearts that God in heaven fed them faithfully and no other could in the impossible circumstance. The land of God’s rest indicates the redeemed humanity and the produce of the land does the fruits of them. Indeed, they must have truly satisfied by eating the produce of the land. It tells us that until we enter God’s rest there is no true satisfaction and fulfillment in life.

Prayer: Thank you our Father in heaven for opening our eyes of heart and mind to see the truth that we cannot enter God’s rest unless we die with Christ. Thank our Lord Jesus who set the example by denying himself in order to obey to the will of the Father in the Mount of Gethsemane. Thank Jesus who obeyed and died on the cross, shedding his blood in our place. Thank you Father to raise him up from the dead so that we may be also raised with him and have life in him. May we never forget that we cannot celebrate the Passover unless we enter his rest through death with Christ! In Christ’s name. Amen.

 March 2, 2016

© 2015-2016 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

The Irrevocable Act of the Living God (Joshua 3-4)

This is a historic event actually happened that the whole nation crossed the Jordan River on foot. It took long forty years to cross the Jordan although they could have done forty years ago. But it happened suddenly and irrevocably for the whole nation walked through the Jordan on the dry ground as they did through the Red Sea on the dry land forty years ago. No force can resist the nation’s crossing. No enemy can stop it. No authority can cancel it. Prophet Isaiah says, “When I act, who can reverse it?” (Isaiah 43:13b) It is like the woman’s travail, once get started nothing can reverse it, even the woman herself in great agony and pain. That’s what happened for the whole nation Israel crossed the Jordan on the dry land.

“Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: ‘When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.’” (Joshua 3:1-4)

It happened in the order God commanded to Joshua. Early in the morning they set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days people of Israel were told to set to move out and follow the ark of the covenant of the Lord their God when they saw the priests were carrying it. Since they had never been this way before they would know which way to go by following the ark of the covenant of God. It is the symbol of the presence of the living God. So, the people were told to follow him wherever he led them, keeping a distance of about three thousand feet away. They could see the ark moving within the distance.

“Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.’ Joshua said to the priests, ‘Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.’ So they took it up and went ahead of them.” (Joshua 3:5-6)

Joshua prepared the heart of the people to trust in the Lord who would do amazing things among them. The consecration of our heart is only possible through the power of God in the blood of Christ Jesus. The reason they were commanded to consecrate themselves is that our God can work only in the believing people. In our Lord Jesus’ time, there were so many sick and disabled people among whom only those had faith in Christ were cured. Hebrews tells so pertinently why the people of God must consecrate themselves.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Then Joshua commanded the priests to take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people. So, they took it up and went ahead of them. The Lord God said something remarkable to Joshua.

“And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: “When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.”’” (Joshua 3:7-8)

God never exalts any person because in whom there is nothing to be exalted. This is the moment for the people of believing generation to enter God’s rest because the land of Canaan stands for his rest in Christ. Natural man cannot enter into his rest on his own because he is evil in the eyes of the Lord God. In Adam all man is contaminated and influenced by the poison of evil. Man is lost and fallen beyond self-recovery. It is impossible for man to save himself. It is not possible with education, nor with wealth, nor with status, nor with any authority and power of man. Man can be saved only through a mediator between God and the fallen race. The Mediator is Jesus Christ. So, the people of Israel then were entering the rest of God through Jesus Christ the Son. Joshua was standing as the Son Jesus Christ. In fact, his name means “Yahweh is salvation.” When God said to Joshua that he would begin to exalt him, it means that the Father in heaven was pleased with the Son who obeyed him to the point of death and exalted him above every name in heaven and on the earth and under the earth.

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:6-11)

There is no other name which can save and be exalted than the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. There is no other way to come to the Father in heaven except through the Son Jesus Christ (John 14:6). So, all the people of Israel who were crossing the Jordan were baptized into Christ Jesus. They were untied with Christ through the baptism in the Jordan.

“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:3-4)

The priests who carried the ark of the covenant were told to go and stand in the river when they reached the edge of the Jordan’s waters. It indicates not a single person is not allowed to enter his rest without through the death of Christ Jesus. Joshua commanded the Israelites to listen and obey the words of their God.

“Joshua said to the Israelites, ‘Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.’” (Joshua 3:9-13)

This is how they will know that the living God is among them and that he will drive out the seven tribes of Canaan. They will know that the living God is in their midst when the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of them. It exactly reminds of the good shepherd who brings out all his own sheep and goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice (John 10:4). In this way, our Lord Jesus, the good shepherd laid down his life for the sheep (John 10:11). As soon as the priests set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap. As Prophet Isaiah foretold and prophesied, all who follows Jesus Christ shall be healed and cleansed by his wounds (Isaiah 53:5).

“So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.” (Joshua 3:14-17)

It happened exactly the same as the Lord God told to his servant Joshua. It revealed and imprinted the presence of the living God in the heart of the people who obeyed and crossed the Jordan on the dry land. Christ Jesus was cut off completely and became nothing in order to be the mediator and advocate for his people who believe in him just as it was prophesied by Prophet Daniel Chapter 9 (Daniel 9:26).

Joshua Chapter 4 tells that Joshua commanded the twelve men, one from each tribe, to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests were standing, and carry them over to the place where they stayed that night. It is a sign among the Israelites (Joshua 4:6). When their children asked what these stones meant, they would tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever. Jesus Christ is the stone on which anyone who stands on it shall not perish but have eternal life.

“So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.” (Joshua 4:8-9)

This memorial indicates our changed life in Jesus Christ for those who are saved through the baptism with Christ. The stone, Jesus Christ, is in the heart of believers through the crossing of the Jordan. The wilderness life in barrenness and dryness has now been passed over and entered into God’s rest in which overflowing riches of his grace is available wherever and whenever in need. The Jordan stands for our death with Christ. Since we have crossed over from death to life, there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. So, we have the reason to be changed and manifest the changed life in our daily lives. Authentic Christians dare to love the unlovely and forgive the unforgivable. That’s what we are called for. We’re sealed by the power of the Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:14).

“Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the Lord had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over, and as soon as all of them had crossed, the ark of the Lord and the priests came to the other side while the people watched.” (Joshua 4:10-11)

It wasn’t a picnic in crossing the Jordan. Under the supervision of the presence of God represented by the ark of the covenant of the Lord the people hurried over. It reminds of the Passover night when the people ate the prescribed dinner they were really alert and ready to leave at any time, not in a relaxed mood at all. They ate the meal in a hurried and urgent way because the destroyer was passing over them on the night. Entering God’s rest means that we’ve been dead and raised again in Christ. How can we take it lightly when there is death involved?

“The men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, ready for battle, in front of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them. About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the Lord to the plains of Jericho for war.” (Joshua 4:12-13)

A difference after the crossing the Jordan is observed in comparison with after the crossing the Red Sea. There was no dancing party celebrating after the crossing the Jordan because there was a war ahead of them. We learn here a significant truth that entering God’s rest is not the end of wilderness life and the beginning of free life but engaging a war, Jehovah’s war.

“That day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they stood in awe of him all the days of his life, just as they had stood in awe of Moses. Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant law to come up out of the Jordan.’ So Joshua commanded the priests, ‘Come up out of the Jordan.’ And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before.” (Joshua 4:14-18)

This is really a preview of our Lord Jesus’ resurrection. The Lord God exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel and they stood in awe of him all the days of his life. It really speaks for our Lord Jesus Christ who died and buried and rose from the dead. The Father God exalted him above every name in heaven and on earth and under the earth. The flooding waters of the Jordan was cut off which represents the death of Christ. Now the Lord commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” When the priests came out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord and set their feet on the dry ground, the waters the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before. Once we entered his rest, there won’t be a way back to the wilderness life.

“On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. He said to the Israelites, ‘In the future when your descendants ask their parents, “What do these stones mean?” tell them, “Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.” For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.’” (Joshua 4:19-24)

God is our salvation and there is no other way. The duty of mankind is to fear the Lord our God all the days of our life.

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Prayer: Thank you Father in heaven for your irrevocable act in the deliverance of your people through the death of the Son Jesus Christ and in putting them into your rest. Thank you Lord Jesus Christ who obeyed to the point of death by being cut off and becoming nothing in order to save man from the fatal fall. Thank you for manifesting your presence as the living and powerful God in their midst while your people were crossing the Jordan on the dry land. We may fear the Lord our God all the days of our life and always remember the presence of the living God in our midst. In Christ’s name. Amen.

February 26, 2016

© 2015-2016 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.