Monday, September 11 – Joshua 5:2-5

At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time.” So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way after they came out of Egypt. For all the people who came out were circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised.

Life comes in seasons, and sometimes there is a clear start to a new season of life with a physical shift like starting a new school or moving to a new house. We often start these new seasons with resolutions—things like making new friends or getting to know the neighbors. For Israel, a new season was coming. After many years of wandering, God was preparing His people to enter the promised land. God used circumcision to set His people apart, to remind them of their identity as His people. So, as He prepared them to enter this new place and new season, God commanded that all the people “born in the wilderness along the way” be circumcised (v. 5).

We also need to be reminded of our identity as God’s people, though those reminders don’t always look like they did in the Old Testament. Romans 2:28-29 says, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God.” We may follow God faithfully as we begin in our faith, but over time we get caught up in all we’re doing and start living for ourselves instead of Him. We all need this circumcision of the heart. We need a heart changed by the Holy Spirit for God’s glory. We too can start a new season today, making a recommitment to live for God’s purposes instead of ours and letting this serve as a reminder of who we are in Him.

• How do you seek to live out your faith every day?
• How has your heart been changed by the Holy Spirit? What are some things that still need to change?
• Pray and ask God to remind you of who you are in Him.