When we talk about Joshua and the Children of Israel going into the Promised Land, it has been easy (at least for me) to assume that little time passed between crossing the Jordan and the Fall of Jericho. But that isn't the case. There were preparations that had to be made by the Israelites before they marched on Jericho and the Lord delivered the first city into their hands. At the start of Chapter we see that the Kings in Canaan were fearful of the Children of Israel. The stories of the Jordan River drying up for their crossing had spread throughout the land. In fact, verse 1 said there was no spirit left within them any longer because of the Children of Israel. But the Lord didn't send them forth to strike then.
Verse 2 says the Lord told Joshua to make knives and circumcise the men (sons) of Israel. The circumcision we know was an outward sign of the covenant that God had made with Abraham (Genesis 17), but verses 4-6 says that all the men that had come out of Egyptian slavery that were circumcised were consumed in the wilderness during their forty years there. They were consumed because of their disobedience to the Lord and from what Joshua says in verse 7, no circumcisions were performed during that time. The circumcision after crossing the Jordan, the Lord said, broke the final chains of slavery. Even then, they did not immediately advance to Jericho. They stayed in camp until they were healed.
The physical circumcision is not the only circumcision the Lord said He would perform.
Deuteronomy 30:5-6 Then the LORD your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. (6) And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
So, what is the circumcision of the heart? It is a cleansing, a purification of our hearts by the Holy Spirit. The physical circumcision is an outward sign of being set apart for God, but the circumcision of the heart is the inward indication that we are set apart for God fully - both inside and outwardly.
Paul said,
Romans 2:29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
An outward circumcision, or the focus on solely what the outward appearance is, what people see but remaining in sin does not mean the heart has been purified and set aside for God. Our priority, God's priority, is the spiritual circumcision of our hearts. We are to set ourselves apart to Him, belonging to Jesus Christ, and being heirs to the promise (Galatians 3:29). I view circumcision in the Old Testament much like I do baptism in the New Testament. It is an outward symbol for what should be taking place internally.
Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, And take away the foreskins of your hearts, You men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Lest My fury come forth like fire, And burn so that no one can quench it, Because of the evil of your doings."
2 Corinthians Chapter 6 beginning verse 11 talks about being holy. Paul is telling the church at Corinth how to be separate (circumcised) from the world by reminding them what God has said.
2 Corinthians 6:16-18 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM. I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE." (17) Therefore "COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE SEPARATE, SAYS THE LORD. DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN, AND I WILL RECEIVE YOU." (18) "I WILL BE A FATHER TO YOU, AND YOU SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY."
The outward show of circumcision means nothing if we continue in sin and the heart does not follow God. But, Verse 1 of 2 Corinthians 7 is like a continuation of chapter 6. It says this:
2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Before the children of Israel moved across the Jordan River, what were they told to do? They were told to sanctify themselves and make preparations, remember? Before they could advance into the promise God made them, they had to purify themselves. Are we any different? The word circumcise means to 'cut down, to destroy, to cut short' with regards to circumcision of the flesh. In Romans chapter 2, circumcision means 'the condition of the people'. With Jesus' fulfillment of the law (Matthew 5:17), He moved the circumcision from an outward issue to a condition of the heart. It is God's mercy and grace that allows us to come to Him for purification and sanctification. It is God's mercy and grace that allows us to seek His face and His righteousness. We know He is good and faithful to fulfill all He has spoken and set in motion. Is He waiting on us to make our preparations and to sanctify ourselves? Have we identified ourselves as being set apart unto God? Can the world tell a difference in our behavior from its own?
Join the discussion on Facebook as we continue to look at this sanctification process so we are able to move into the land of promise and possess all God has given.
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