Every Male Participates - Joshua 5:5

In the book of Joshua, we learned, “at that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make you 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”, and in chapter five and verse five of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “all the people that came out were circumcised” where we read,

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.

The verse reads, “Now all the people that came out were circumcised:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “now all the people” which means “at that time each, every, the whole and everyone of the male human beings” “that came out were circumcised” or “who exited and went forth from Egypt had their foreskin cut away”. Joshua or the writer referred to how every on the males who exited “Egypt” had been “circumcised”. 

 

The verse continues, “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 added the words, “but all the people” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover each, every, the whole and every one of the human beings” “that were born in the wilderness” which means “who were brought forth and birthed within the uninhabited desert place” “by the way” or “along the traveled road or journey” “as they came forth” which means “during the time they, the people of Israel, left and departed” “out of Egypt” or “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”, “them they had not circumcised” which means “them, the people who left Egypt, they, the people of Israel, had in no way or manner cut off their foreskin”. Joshua or the writer shared how every one of the male children of Israel who were birthed while Israel was in the uninhabited desert place after departing from “Egypt” were not “circumcised”. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover how everyone of the males of “Israel” who departed from “Egypt” was already “circumcised”, however those who were “born” in the uninhabited desert place were not. These were the males to whom “Joshua” was to “cut away” their foreskin in obedience to Jehovah God. This covenant was symbolic of removing the flesh nature from the people of Israel, (See Colossians 2:11) and the same is necessary for us. Jesus Christ came into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days, and when we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and “cut away” our flesh nature by the power of His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and empower us to live according to that truth. (See Romans 2:29)

Next time we Joshua or the author refers to how, “the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness”, 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".