Walking in Obedience

Hello Everyone,
The second lesson of Gigal shows up in Joshua chapter 5:1-9 read with me.
1 Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until we had crossed over, their hearts melted and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites. 2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again." 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. 4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the desert on the way after leaving Egypt. 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the desert during the journey from Egypt had not. 6 The Israelites had moved about in the desert forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the LORD. For the LORD had sworn to them that they would not see the land that he had solemnly promised their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed. 9 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.

The generation that had come out of Egypt had forgotten something along the way. During the forty years they spent wandering in the desert, they stopped practicing the sign of the covenant God had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

That sign was circumcision.
To be a Hebrew male meant being circumcised.

But as sons were born during the wilderness wanderings, God’s people failed to honor their covenant obligations.

So now it is like God is saying, “Stop everything. This generation is living in disobedience. Don’t take another step until you straighten this out.”

When Joshua had circumcised all those who where supposed to have been, the Lord responded with, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” (5:9)

Listen: Your holiest days will be your happiest days.

The people of Israel got right with God at Gigal, and then they were ready to go out and conquer the land.

You do not need to pray about things that God has already called sin.

God lovingly calls us to obedience. He never gives UP.
The fact of His Holiness can never be compromised!

To reject God’s requirements does not set us free to enjoy our independence. Instead it puts us evermore into a deeper bondage.

Only when we are in obedience to His commands are we truly free to live in His blessings and go forward.

Don’t take another step into 2009 if you are in disobedience go back and do what God has said to do.

And then you will be in the “Place of God’s Blessing” in this New Year.

All For Jesus
Phil