Today’s passage: Joshua 5:1-12
Helpful thoughts:
- It didn’t take long for news to spread of over two million people crossing the Jordan on dry ground with a giant wall of water 15 miles north of them. The people there knew, and they were terrified.
- The generation of Israel that died in the wilderness did not obey the Lord. One area of disobedience was in not circumcising their boys, disregarding the promise of God. Upon their circumcision, Israel was now renewed in their promise from God to multiply their people (His people).
- God brought Israel into the land in time for Passover, celebrating the last meal their people had eaten before departing Egypt. The celebration of Passover, the circumcision of this generation, and the cutting off of the manna marked a new chapter in the history of the nation.
- And, the Passover pointed them forward to the ultimate blessing which their existence would bring about, their Messiah, Jesus Christ!
Questions to consider:
- How does this generation of Israelites contrast with the generation that died in the wilderness? What characteristics are being put on display? How are different people responding to the same God?
- How was Egypt’s reproach of Israel “rolled away”? What did the reaffirmation of circumcision and the end of Israel’s wanderings communicate to Israel and to Egypt about God faithfulness?
- How does a right fear of the Lord (Joshua 4:24) give me a right perspective of the commands of God, the specificity of my obedience, and the opinions of other people who do not fear God?