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…
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".
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