Before the people of God could march in and conquer the land of Canaan, they had an issue that needed to be resolved. They had not observed the signs of the Lord's Covenant with them: circumcision and the Passover.
In spite of all the wonders that God had already done for the Israelites, the warlords of Canaan resolved to fight to the last, instead of bowing the knee before the Lord. And yet now He tells His people to incapacitate their entire army by doing something they had neglected and ignored for the last 40 years – circumcising all the Israelite men, thereby giving them the sign and the seal that they belonged to God.
People tend to not like a disciplining God, as He had showed Himself to be during the Israelites' wilderness wanderings. The good news of the Gospel is true, but we cannot live however we want and still be blessed by the Lord. But praise His name – there is hope for the next generation!
The people of Israel also celebrated the Passover – the remembrance of the Lord's redemption of their nation from slavery in Egypt. And the very next day, they enjoyed the produce of the land of Canaan and the fruit of the Lord's fulfilled promises!
Are we passing on our faith to the next generation of our children and grandchildren? They must be discipled and pointed to the Lord Jesus! When this is done, the Gospel will melt the hearts of whole families and begin to have an influence upon the culture in general. |
