A Ritual Repeated - Joshua 5:2

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel”, and in chapter five and verse two of the book of Joshua, we learn how Jehovah God tells Joshua, “circumcise again the children of Israel” where we read,

At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make you sharp knives, 

and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.

The verse reads, “At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make you sharp knives, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “at that time the LORD” which means “at that moment or time period Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “said unto Joshua” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed to Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation”, “make you sharp knives” which means “fashion, accomplish and produce sharpened edges of cutting stones or tools”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God told “Joshua” to fashion sharpened cutting stones or tools for the following reason. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.” Joshua continued with the words, “and circumcise again” or “and cut away the foreskin yet another time” “the children of Israel” which means “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” “the second time” or “the second time period”. Jehovah God instructed “Joshua” to cut away the flesh of the foreskin of the offspring belonging to “Israel” a “second time”. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God continued to work among the people of Israel. The cutting away of the “foreskin” was symbolic of “cutting away the flesh” (See Colossians 2:11) or sanctification, and this was the first work God wanted His people “Israel” to do when they entered the promise land. We shall see more about this in our next verses, but for now let us consider that God desires the same for us. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die 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 to be forgiven of our sins, cleansed from all unrighteousness, granted everlasting life and equipped with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and keep us on His straight, narrow and righteous way. (See 1 John 1:9; Matthew 7:14; John 16:13)

Next time we learn how, “Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel”, 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".