The Word for Today with Ray

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Eating of the Old Corn - Joshua 5:11

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “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”, and in chapter five and verse eleven of the book of Joshua, we learn how Joshua or the writer shared how, “they did eat of the old corn of the land”, where we read,

And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover,

unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.

The verse reads, “And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and they did eat” which means “and they, the people of Israel, consumed, devoured and ate” “of the old corn” or “pertaining to the stored or kept over produce or grain” “of the land” which means “belonging to the region, territory and district” “on the morrow” or “upon the next day” “after the passover” which means “following the passover sacrament or festival”. Joshua or the writer shared how the people of Israel consumed the kept over grain from the territory on the day following the “passover” sacrament.

The verse goes on to say, “… unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.” Joshua continued with the words, “unleavened cakes” or “bread without leaven”, “and parched corn” which means “and roasted grain” “in the selfsame day” or “within the very same sunrise to sunset”. Joshua or the writer said the people of Israel also consumed bread without leaven and roasted grain on that very same day.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Joshua or the writer how the people of Israel began to “eat” of the produce of the promise land. Rather than “manna” which they had every day, they were eating bread without leaven and roasted grain. On the day after they participated in the sacred “passover” meal, they began to consume the food of the land. In other words, they began to devour the food which the land provided. God gave both provisions of food, however, the sacred “passover” was meant as a reminder of how God delivered the people of Israel from Egypt. God wants us to partake of spiritual practices as well as the food He provides for our every day consumption. God wants us to be in a personal relationship with His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and teach us the value of our regular nourishment and the times where we are to eat in remembrance of Him. (See 1 Corinthians 11:24-25)

Next time we learn how, “the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".

Keeping the Passover - Joshua 5:10

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “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 in chapter five and verse ten of the book of Joshua, we learn how Joshua or the author shared how, “the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover”, where we read,

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.

The verse reads, “And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and the children of Israel” which means “and the offspring and progeny belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “encamped in Gilgal” or “pitched their tents, rested and dwelt in Gilgal whose name means a wheel or rolling and was the first site of an Israelite camp west of the Jordan, east of Jericho, here Samuel was judge, and Saul was made king; later used for illicit worship”. Joshua or the writer referred to how the offspring belonging to “Israel” pitched their tents and dwelt in “Gilgal”.

The verse continues, “…and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.” Joshua added the words, “and kept the passover” or “and prepared and produced the sacrifice pertaining to passover” “on the fourteenth day” which means “upon the fourteenth sunrise to sunset” “of the month at even” or “belonging to the month of the year at sunset or the evening time” “in the plains” which means “within the steppe, desert or wilderness” “of Jericho” or “belonging to Jericho whose name means its moon a city five miles (8 km) west of the Jordan and seven miles (11.5 km) north of the Dead Sea and the first city conquered by the Israelites upon entering the promised land of Canaan”. Joshua or the writer shared how the people of “Israel” observed the sacrifice of “passover” on the “fourteenth day of the month” at the evening time within the desert wilderness belonging to “Jericho”.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Joshua how the people of “Israel” continued to follow God’s directive for worship as they entered the promise land. They pitched their tents in “Gilgal” and observed the “passover” meal instituted by Moses as they departed from Egypt. (See Numbers 9:1-5) They followed God’s instruction for this sacred meal on the “fourteenth day of the month” at the evening time and in the desert wilderness belonging to “Jericho”. Setting up a memorial, observing the sacred rite of circumcision and observing “passover” were three physical acts which had spiritual implications. God wants a spiritual personal relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days, and when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and help us to observe spiritual practices which keep us in alignment with Him and His ways.

Next timeJoshua or the writer shares how the children of Israel, “did eat of the old corn of the land”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Reproach of Egypt Rolled Away - Joshua 5:9

In the book of Joshua, we learned about the people of Israel, “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 in chapter five and verse nine of the book of Joshua, we learn how Joshua or the writer shared how, “the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you”, where we read,

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.

The verse reads, “And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you.” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and the LORD” which means “and Jehovah who is the existing One and is the proper name for the One True God” “said unto Joshua” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed to Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation”, “this day have I rolled away the reproach” which means “this particular sunrise to sunset have I, Jehovah God, removed the scorn, taunting, rebuke, disgrace and shame” “of Egypt” or “belonging to Egypt whose name means ‘land of the Copts’ and is a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows” “from off you” which means “separate and apart from you, the people of Israel”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God told the people of Israel that He removed the shame and disgrace of “Egypt” from them on the particular “day” upon which He spoke to them.

The verse goes on to say, “Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.” Joshua continued with the words, “wherefore the name of the place” or “therefore, then and on this account the fame, reputation and glory belonging to the location” “is called Gilgal” which means “is proclaimed, summoned, appointed and known by Gilgal whose name means a wheel or rolling and was the the first site of an Israelite camp west of the Jordan, east of Jericho, here Samuel was judge, and Saul was made king; later used for illicit worship” “unto this day” or “to this particular sunrise to sunset”. Joshua or the writer said this is the reason “Gilgal” was known by their “name” which means a rolling or wheel to that particular “day”.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God continued to be involved with the people of Israel. He said that particular “day” He would remove the reproach and shame from “Egypt” from them, and because this was a “rolling away” of this taunting and scorn, “Gilgal” received its “name” from this act. God is for the people of Israel, and He is for us. When He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead three days later, He made the way through faith and trust in Him to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and equipped with His Holy Spirit so we become aware of His truth and His activity step by step in our lives.

Next time Joshua or the author shares how, “the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

In the Camp - Joshua 5:8

In the book of Joshua, we learned about the males of Israel, “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. For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD swore that he would not show them the land, which the LORD swore unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that flows with milk and honey. And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way”, and in chapter five and verse eight of the book of Joshua, we learn how Joshua or the author shared how, “they abode in their places in the camp”, where we read,

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.

The verse reads, “And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and it came to pass” which means “and it happened and occurred” “when they had done circumcising” or “at the time and moment they, Joshua and those who performed the act of cutting away the foreskins of” “all the people” which means “each, every, the whole and everyone of the male human beings from the offspring of Israel”. Joshua or the writer referred to how the following occurred at the time and moment the cutting away of the flesh was performed upon every one of the male offspring of Israel.

The verse goes on to say, “… that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.” Joshua continued with the words, “that they abode in their places” or “that they, the males who were circumcised, dwelled, stayed and remained within their locations” “in the camp” which means “within the encampment”, “till there were whole” or “until they, the males who were circumcised, existed as quickened and restored to health”. Joshua or the writer said the males who were circumcised remained in the locations in the encampment until they were restored to health again.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn at the time and moment that everyone of the males of Israel had the cutting away of their foreskin performed, that these males continued within their encampment until they were healed. Although this sacred rite was to be performed before the children of Israel began to possess the promise land, there was to be a period of healing before the people of Israel would proceed. God had a plan, and each part of this plan was to be fulfilled. God has a plan for our salvation through His Son Jesus Christ who bore the pain and agony of the death on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when He raised Him from the dead after three days, He made the way through faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord” to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and provided with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth which shall include when to act and when to remain in place until we are healed.

Next time Joshua or the writer shares how, “the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Joshua Tends to the Children - Joshua 5:7

In the book of Joshua, we learned concerning the males in Israel, “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. For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD swore that he would not show them the land, which the LORD swore unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that flows with milk and honey”, and in chapter five and verse seven of the book of Joshua, we learn how Joshua or the writer said, “their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised”, where we read,

And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised:

for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.

The verse reads, “And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and their children” which means “and their, the people of Israel’s, offspring and progeny” “whom he raised up” or “that he, Jehovah God, fixed, established and stationed” “in their stead” which means “in their, the people of Israel who departed Egypt’s, place”, “them Joshua” or “them, the offspring of Israel who replaced those who departed from Egypt, Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation” “circumcised” which means “cut away the foreskin of”. Joshua or the writer shared how Joshua cut away the foreskin of the male offspring belonging to Israel who replace the original ones who departed from Egypt.

The verse continues, “for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.” Joshua added the words, “for they were uncircumcised” or “because, since and on account that they, the offspring of Israel who replaced the original ones who departed from Egypt, existed without their foreskin cut away”, “because they had not circumcised them” which means “since and on account that they, the original people of Israel who left Egypt, did not cut away their foreskin” “by the way” or “along their journey or traveled road in the wilderness”. Joshua or the writer shared how the “offspring” who were born in the “wilderness” were not “circumcised” during their travels.

When we consider the words in this verse, we discover how “Joshua” was to “circumcise” the offspring of Israel who were born while they wandered in the desert for forty years. Their leaders and parents neglected to follow God’s covenant, and now all of those who missed this sacred rite were to be circumcised by “Joshua”. God wants us to live after the spirit and not to fulfill the lusts of the flesh (See Galatians 5:16), and because He loves us, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us so we are not only guided to the truth, but also empowered to live according to that truth. (See John 16:13; Acts 1:8)

Next time we see how Joshua or the writer says after the circumcision, “they abode in their places in the camp”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Forty Years in the Wilderness - Joshua 5:6

In the book of Joshua, speaking of the children of Israel who departed from Egypt we learned, “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”, and in chapter five and verse six of the book of Joshua, we learn how Joshua or the author referred to how, “the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness”, where we read,

For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD swore that he would not show them the land, which the LORD swore unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that flows with milk and honey.

The verse reads, “For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “for the children of Israel” which means “because, since and on account that the offspring and progeny belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the proper name of the One True God” “walked forty years” or “departed, proceeded, moved and traversed for forty annual sets of days” “in the wilderness” which means “within the uninhabited desert place”, “till all the people” or “until each, every, the whole and everyone of the male human beings” “that were men of war” which means “who existed as male human beings pertaining to battle and fighting”, “which came out of Egypt” or “who left and departed from Egypt whose name means land of the Copts and is a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows”, “were consumed” or “existed as complete, finished and at an end”, “because they obeyed not” which means “since and on account that they, the people of Israel, did not hear, listen to, perceive or pay attention to” “the voice of the LORD” or “the noise and sound of uttered words from Jehovah who is the existing One and is the proper name for the One True God”. Joshua or the writer referred to how the offspring belonging to “Israel” made their way through the uninhabited desert place until all the male human beings trained for battle who departed from “Egypt” were devoured on account that they did not hearken to Jehovah God’s words.

The verse goes on to say, “unto whom the LORD swore that he would not show them the land, which the LORD swore unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that flows with milk and honey.” Joshua continued with the words, “unto whom the LORD” or “to whom Jehovah who is the existing One and is the proper name for the One True God” “swore that he would not show them” which means “adjured and took an oath that he, Jehovah God, would in no way or manner allow or permit them, the people of Israel who departed from Egypt, to inspect, perceive or observe” “the land” or “the region, territory and country”, “which the LORD” which means “that Jehovah who is the existing One and is the proper name for the One True God”, “swore unto their fathers” or “adjured and took an oath toward their, the people of Israel’s, immediate male ancestors and progenitors” “that he would give us” which means “that he, Jehovah God, was to grant, bestow and assign to us, Joshua and the people of Israel”, “a land that flows” or “a region, territory and country that gushes, issues and discharges forth” “with milk and honey” which means “accompanied by rich milk from a kine and sticky honey or honeycomb.” Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God took an oath that He would in no way allow the people of Israel who left “Egypt” to observe the territory that gushes with “rich milk” and sweet honeycomb.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Joshua or the writer referred to the “forty years” that the people of Israel “wandered” through the uninhabited desert with all the males who left “Egypt” already being “circumcised”, however, they did not continue that sacred rite upon those who were birthed in the “wilderness”. Those who left “Egypt”, other than Joshua and Caleb, were not allowed to observe or enter into the promise land because they did not hearken unto God’s declarations. God wants obedience, and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days, He made the way for us through faith and trust in Him to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and provided with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and teach us the value of paying attention to and obeying the directives of Almighty God.

Next time Joshua or the author says, “their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…