Jos. 5: The Second Circumcision

Joshua 5:12 "The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan."

What a visual. I love the description of "hearts melting" at the thought of the Israelites coming to town. The HACPHAJ had no will or courage left to face them. The heart is all that makes a person who they are...and for the Canaanites and Amorites...it melted. It completely changed states.

Anyway, since leaving Egypt, Israel didn't keep up with the circumcision on the eighth day law very well. In fact, they neglected it altogether. By this time a whole uncircumcised generation had passed (as is my understanding), and not one man was circumcised. So the LORD had Joshua make a flint knife and have every man's foreskin cut off. They even named a hill after it.

Another point of interest is in verse 6. "...promised their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey..." I believe this is the first time the Biblical narrative is told in first-person point of view. Us, meaning the Israelites, of course. So, at this point, we can identify the writer with the Israelites. Where previously, I don't know, I guess my assumption was that God was ghostwriting, and maybe He still is, but here we have a perspective.

Apparently, while ignoring the covenant of circumcision, Israel was still under the "reproach" of Egypt. Israel was still under the blame...the reputation of sin from Egypt. Which is quite the thought. But after this renewal of circumcision, it was a new life, and the Israelites were able to eat the produce of Canaan, which I suspect has more than a surface meaning. The manna no longer appeared after this point. And manna was to keep Israel alive while wandering...

Joshua is balls to the wall, man. He's hanging around near Jericho, and sees this guy with his sword drawn (presumably meaning he's ready to cave some faces in). Joshua goes right up to him in his courageousness and asks, flat out, "Are you for us or against us?"

"Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come."

Whoa, commander of the army of the LORD. Can you imagine how Joshua's heart must have leapt. I would have been scared 3/8ths to death. Joshua could only do what the commander told him to do, which was to take off his sandals, since he was on holy ground. The last time someone had to do this...Exodus 3:5, where someone named Moses was commissioned.

And what's this business about "Neither?" The commander of the army of the LORD was neither for the nation of Israel or for Israel's enemies. What does this mean? Is the army of the LORD something beyond earth? Something heavenly? Angels? Would this commander of the army of the LORD have a chat with Jericho's military leaders then, too? Curious.

And he has now come. That's another enigmatic piece of scripture. Where has he been? Why did he come, and why now? What's the significance? There wasn't any forewarning of this coming, otherwise Joshua would have known...would have expected it. I'm curious as to who this person is. And I'm about to find out.

Dt. 30: It's just a little airborne, it's still good...

Deuteronomy 30:4 "Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the LORD your God will gather you and bring you back."

Well, after that deluge of curses from the previous chapter, it would be easy to think that life would be hopeless...useless. And it would be. Until the sinner makes a decision to turn back to God. With the pain and horror brought by God as a result of one's falling away, how easy would it be for you to want to turn back to Him? To someone capable of that kind of aggressive punishment? Could/would you trust Him? Bearing in mind that He did give multiple fair warnings against turning away from Him. He gave multitudinous reasons to stick with Him.

Anyway...I love how verse 3 says that "God will restore your fortunes." I don't necessarily believe this has anything to do with monetary wealth. To have the wonder that was before be restored after a great sin is an amazing concept. The way you were before...the way you were intended to be...will be restored. Why would God do that? Does He have to? To keep His covenant, yes. There are many things that are mentioned in the Bible that people can do "so that it may go well with you." God will give back what people have thrown away.

But is simply returning to God the end of it? Hardly. God does so much more on His own here in verses 5 - 10... Just look at this...He will bring you to the promised land. He will make you prosperous. He will circumcise your hearts, so that you can live. He will persecute your enemies. He will make you prosperous. He will delight in you. Your job...obey. That's about it. There is so much responsibility here that God takes upon Himself in order to restore His relationship with his people.

Circumcision of the heart is a little obtuse, but pretty clear...circumcision was an external sign of the covenant. Circumcising the heart was an inward commitment to the covenant.

The end of Chapter 30 breaks down the free will choice people have between life, or death. And it's simple. No one has to ascend into heaven to understand it, or cross a sea to understand it. It is near. It is something easily grasped...within reach. Sure, God commands people to choose life, by why wouldn't you? The free will to choose death is there, but the consequences remain. Just as choosing life will lead to great expectations of blessing.

Gen. 17: Don't be Cut Off

So, chapter 17 takes place about 13 years after chapter 16 comes to a close. By this time, Ishmael is a young boy, and Abram is 99 years old, his wife Sarai is about 90. Abram was already an old fogey when God made the covenant with him all those years ago. By this time, I wonder how Abram's faith was holding up. Even with screwed-up ages compared to modern times, its getting pretty late in the game to father an heir. If God made me a promise, I'd probably give Him less than 13 years before I'd start letting my doubts creep in.

Finally, God appears before Abram and says, "All right, I'm ready to confirm this covenant. You're numbers will start to increase." I don't know if God jumped out of nowhere after 13 years of total silence, or if He had been making appearances here and there...the Bible doesn't say. But Abram falls face down before God...out of fear, awe, reverence...I'd do the same, I suppose.

God announces that this is a covenant of circumcision. Ouch. Every male 8 days and up from here to...forever...will have to have a bit of minor surgery on the most intimate part of his body. Perhaps this cutting is a reminder of the reproductive dedication to the covenant between God and man? This covenant is one of flesh. That it is not the human body that reproduces humans...there is a miracle from God that reproduces humans. Imagine Abram's reaction to God telling him this.

"You want me to what my what?"

Anyway, in order to be identified as a child of God, there must be circumcision. The foreskin must be removed. It is possible the foreskin was symbolic of the unclean? Anyone who doesn't undergo circumcision will be...well, "cut off." Hey, God's words, not mine. This is a covenant that man is capable of breaking in flesh. God says, "I'm good to go" but if man refuses to take this action, he breaks the covenant, and will not be a part of God's promise.

Sarai becomes Sarah, and Abram becomes Abraham. Probably means "father of many nations." This name change comes as a result of the new covenant, I'd assume, as things change drastically in this movement of God. What an amazing thing to be told that Kings of nations would be born in your line. Awesome.

Anyway, Abraham...I'm not sure how he's taking this. God said all this before. Abraham even laughs...."I'm 99 years old, and my wife is about to hit 90. How will we see this? Are you talking about Ishmael?"

Noooooo....God said it would include Sarah...duhhh.

God gets very specific with Abraham, telling him that the covenant will be established through Isaac, who will be born to Sarah. Sure, Ishmael will have it good, be the father of 12 nations and such, but the everlasting covenant will be through Isaac, who will be born by this time NEXT YEAR! Finally! God gives a time frame. Sometimes we just need those.