No More Reproach
At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again." So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.
Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt -- all the men of military age -- died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not.
. . . And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.
Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." So the place has been called Gilgal to this day. Joshua 5:2-9
Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt -- all the men of military age -- died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not.
. . . And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.
Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." So the place has been called Gilgal to this day. Joshua 5:2-9
Many of the Israelites who came out of Egypt rebelled against God and died in the wilderness.
They carried the reproach of Egypt with them until they died in the wilderness. Their children were now about to enter the Promised Land and God wanted to ensure that they were right with Him. God did not want them to enter the Promised Land with any reproach.
The circumcision was a sign of their covenant relationship with God. The circumcision signified a new beginning between God and His people whom He was about to bless in the Promised Land. The circumcision also represented the fact that the sins, shame, and reproach attached to their old life of slavery in Egypt had now been "rolled away." There was to be no more shame.
Their past shame was to be no longer attached to their future. The past had been rolled away. The physical circumcision was the sign that God was doing something new in their lives.
In our relationship with God there comes a time when we must make a clean break with our past ungodly activities which brought us shame. God's desire is that our new life in Him should have no taint of reproach whatsoever. God is prepared to circumcise our hearts and roll away every past reproach.
Whatever your past may have been: unfaithfulness to God, adultery, divorce, drug addiction, lying, pornography, stealing, sexual promiscuity . . . it does not matter to God. God is prepared to circumcise your heart and roll away every past reproach attached to your life. God has given you a new beginning.
Don't allow the enemy to beat you down with your past. God has already rolled away every reproach from your life. You are a child of the Most High God. You have been cleansed with the Precious Blood of Jesus. There is no more reproach attached to you!
They carried the reproach of Egypt with them until they died in the wilderness. Their children were now about to enter the Promised Land and God wanted to ensure that they were right with Him. God did not want them to enter the Promised Land with any reproach.
The circumcision was a sign of their covenant relationship with God. The circumcision signified a new beginning between God and His people whom He was about to bless in the Promised Land. The circumcision also represented the fact that the sins, shame, and reproach attached to their old life of slavery in Egypt had now been "rolled away." There was to be no more shame.
Their past shame was to be no longer attached to their future. The past had been rolled away. The physical circumcision was the sign that God was doing something new in their lives.
In our relationship with God there comes a time when we must make a clean break with our past ungodly activities which brought us shame. God's desire is that our new life in Him should have no taint of reproach whatsoever. God is prepared to circumcise our hearts and roll away every past reproach.
Whatever your past may have been: unfaithfulness to God, adultery, divorce, drug addiction, lying, pornography, stealing, sexual promiscuity . . . it does not matter to God. God is prepared to circumcise your heart and roll away every past reproach attached to your life. God has given you a new beginning.
Don't allow the enemy to beat you down with your past. God has already rolled away every reproach from your life. You are a child of the Most High God. You have been cleansed with the Precious Blood of Jesus. There is no more reproach attached to you!
Prayer: Lord, I thank you that I am a new creature in you. Every reproach is rolled away and I am now clothed with the glory and righteousness of Christ. Amen