Let God Do Something IN You Before He Does Something Through You
Joshua 5:2–3 (ESV) At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. If there is one moment in Joshua where we learn that God's ways are most definitely not our ways it is here in Joshua 5. Having freshly crossed the Jordan, the Israelite nation have come armed for battle and ready to do business with the nations their parents were far too intimidated by 40 years earlier. They had also been stuck in the vicious waiting game for 40 years after that previous generation's failure to believe. Now they are here at the cusp of war and occupation. But what does God have them do? Get circumcised. Now, this whole schedule would have reminded them of the story concerning Jacob's sons who had the men of Shechem get circumcised deceitfully so they could overwhelm and kill them in retributive vengeance for the violation of their ...