When We Don’t Understand

“At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Makes flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again. So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gilbeath Haaraloth.”” (Joshua 5:2-3 NIV)

At what time? We can’t miss this; it’s important. God called the Israelites to renew their covenant with Him via the physical act of circumcision immediately after they crossed the border into Canaan. It feels like unfortunate timing. They had just spent months in Shittim, the very last campsite before entering into the Promised Land. They had been relatively safe on the other side of the Jordan, but now they had breached the border into enemy territory and circumcision would render every man useless for a few days. They would basically be sitting ducks. Why would God give what felt like bad instructions? Thankfully the word answers our question directly:

“This is why He did so: all those who came out of Egypt – all 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 fromEgypt had not… So He raised up sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way.”(Joshua 5:4-5, 7 NIV)

Circumcision was an outward sign of an inward commitment to God’s covenant. The terminal generation had participated in that covenant, but the wilderness generation had not. If they were going to receive the Promised Land – a huge part of the payout of God’s covenant – they would need to have some skin in the game.

It occurs to me also, that this elective surgery in hostile territory was a huge act of trust. The Israelites’s would have recalled Dinah’s story in Genesis 34, the daughter of Jacob was raped by a Hivite prince. Her brothers avenged her name; insisting a treaty between tribes would only be honored if the Hivites participated in the Israeli tradition of circumcision. The Hivites obliged and while the men in their tribe incapacitated, the brothers swept in and massacred every male among them, carrying off the Hivite wealth, their wives and their children. It was a gross overreaction to the assault on their sister and it rendered the Israelites a lasting stench in Canaan.

If they knew their people’s history, there had to be some concern among the wilderness generation that revenge might be taken as they recovered from communal circumcision. Participating in God’s request required courage that He would cover them, that the fear incited in Jericho (Joshua 5:1-2) was significant enough to keep the Canaanites out of their camp.

What does any of this mean to modern-day believers?

God allows exceptions amidst strange seasons. The Israelites had forgone circumcision in their wilderness wandering. But if they were going to settle down in God’s country and be God’s people, they would need to follow through with His instructions, no matter how uncomfortable it made them.

Sometimes the instructions of God don’t make sense in the natural. Breaching a border and immediately incapacitating an entire army seems foolish, but obeying God’s instructions is always a wise move.

When God instructs, He also protects. Going with God is our securest path forward. Going our own way is a sure path to folly.

“Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.” (Proverbs 16:20 NIV)

Dear Lord, sometimes You issue instructions and we struggle to comply. Your direction goes against our instinct. But Your protection flows over those who follow You. Help us to hear and obey, even when we don’t understand. Give us the courage to put aside our fears and walk in obedience. May we willingly receive all You have for us
today and forever. Amen.