Circumcision 03.14.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Friday (TGIF!), March 14, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of Joshua. Please read Joshua 4 -- 6 in your Bible or Click Here to read. In today's study we will read and learn about the memorial at Gilgal; circumcision; Passover at Gilgal; manna ceasing; and Jericho is besieged and destroyed. Today's message focuses on the New Convenant that Jesus made that replaced the Passover.

God said to the Israelites, I have given you the land to possess it, however, the promises of God always include personal responsibilities for the receivers of those promises. Before going further into the land, the LORD said to Joshua circumcise again the children of Israel. "At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. 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." (Joshua 5:2-5).

The right of circumcision had been instituted by the Lord with Abraham, the father of the faithful, as a visible sign of the people's Covenant relationship with Him (Genesis 17:9-14). Circumcision of all males was required before eating the Passover (Exodus 12:48). After being circumcised, the new generation also became identified as the Lord's Covenant people and was qualified to keep the Passover. "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." (Joshua 5:8-10). The Passover commemorated the Lord's deliverance of His people from Egypt and pointed the way to the coming messianic Deliverer. Circumcision and the Passover foreshadowed the commands of believer's baptism and the Lord's Supper for the Church.

At His last Passover, our Lord Jesus revealed that His death would fulfill and replace the Passover. Concerning this new ordinance, the Apostle Paul wrote, "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." (I Corinthians 11:23-26).

The Christian's circumcision is also explained by Paul, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:8-15).

Today's Psalm: 51:9-11
"Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I thank You, through Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, that You keep me safe from all evil and danger. Save me, I pray, today as well, from every evil and sin, so that all I do and the way that I live will please you. I put myself in your care, body and soul and all that I have. Let the Power of Your Holy Spirit reveal itself to me, so that the evil enemy will not gain power over me. In Jesus' name, I pray.....amen

Have a wonderful day/night and weekend.
God Bless,
Christina

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