December 30, 2023

In Israel’s forty years of wondering, they didn’t circumcise their babies on the eighth day. Once they came into the plains of Jericho, the land of promise, the Lord told them to do it now. After they complied, they celebrated Passover on the fourteenth day of the month. The manna stopped because they could eat the old corn of the land. Then suddenly, the captain of the host of the LORD, with a drawn sword, stood before Joshua. 

Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. Joshua 5:13b-14a

They cleansed themselves of sin before crossing the Jordan; they circumcised the reproach of Egypt from upon them, and then Jesus showed up! We know it was Jesus because he made Joshua remove his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. 

Two things to take away from this: 1) Jesus wasn’t for or against Israel. That’s good news for those who aren’t Israelites, which is most of us. He is for righteousness! If those countries hadn’t worshipped other gods, they wouldn’t have been overtaken. 2) When you cleanse yourself of unrighteousness by repenting and asking forgiveness, Jesus will show up. Cleansing yourself of sin should be a daily thing. Be remorseful, and sincerely ask that He forgive you. I always want Jesus brandishing his weapon before me as he did for Israel. Don’t you?