Joshua 5:2-9

Why Circumcision?

Genesis 17:1-14 – The Abrahamic Covenant

Leviticus 12:3 – The Mosaic Covenant

Gilgal was a place of delayed obedience.

“Delayed obedience often complicates our lives and can result in painful circumstances our obedience would have avoided.”

– John Lindell, New Normal

Gilgal was a place of required preparation.

Circumcising all the men was God’s route to wholeness.

You can’t take disobedience into the Promised Land.

Gilgal was a place of healing.

God allowed the Israelites to put the conquest of Canaan on hold so that they could heal, and so their strength could be restored.

“God isn’t interested in you getting anything done as much as He wants you healed, whole, and rested.” John Lindell, New Normal

Hebrews 12:11

Gilgal was a place of restored covenant.

Genesis 17:7-8

God promised this land to Abraham’s descendants via covenant, and God always keeps His covenants:

Deuteronomy 7:9

Genesis 17:9-10

Genesis 17:14

The uncircumcised Israelites had absolutely no claim whatsoever to the Promised Land because they had broken the covenant.

God gave them a second chance, an opportunity to restore a broken covenant relationship.

A New Covenant

Matthew 26:28

The New Covenant: God’s covenant with us to forgive our sins and offer salvation, with all the blessings that entails, secured through the shed blood of Jesus.

This is Good News!

The New Covenant comes with conditions:

Mark 1:15 – Repent and believe.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Is there something God has asked me to do that I have left undone?
• Is there something I know God wanted me to deal with, but I haven’t done so?
• Is there something keeping me from leaving behind the reproach of Egypt?