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Part five of the Heart of Flesh Series

God called Joshua to take over for Moses to lead His people into the Promised land. Joshua did something a little unusual. The men would be called upon to use all their strength to defeat armies they considered to strong for them. The first item on Joshua’s agenda was to circumcise them. What kind of strategy is this? Can you imagine an army weaker than those nursing wounded private parts? What clearer picture of weakness do we need? I can tell you that both Old and New Testaments point to circumcision as the way to cross over. The beginning of a fulfilling life with God. It is about the circumcision of the heart.

Joshua 5:2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time.” 5 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. 6 For the sons of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished because they did not listen to the voice of the Lord, to whom the Lord had sworn that He would not let them see the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 Their children whom He raised up in their place, Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them along the way.8 Now when they had finished circumcising all the nation, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed. 9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.”

Romans 2:28-29 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 that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter.

Philippians 3:3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.

The weeping prophet, Jeremiah wrote: Jeremiah 9: 25 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “that I will punish all who are circumcised and yet uncircumcised— 26 Egypt and Judah, and Edom and the sons of Ammon, and Moab and all those inhabiting the desert who clip the hair on their temples; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised of heart.”

God was saying He expected what He got from the world, but He expects something different from His people. They might be set apart by having circumcised foreskins, but their hearts were uncircumcised. They could neither follow the rules nor change their hearts. God had to pledge to do it for them in Ezekiel 37:26 which has been the focus of this entire series.

Lately, I have two thoughts about the meaning of circumcision chasing one another around in my brain. David repeatedly calling Goliath an uncircumcised Phillistine, and the fact the name of the outer court is the court of the Gentiles. The uncircumcised had boundaries that they could not cross. They could not come into the inner court, never mind the Holy of Holies, reserved for the priest!

Then comes the divine, BUT NOW of Ephesians 2:11 Therefore remember that previously you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Do you know what happens in prayer sometimes? In fact, for the most part until we have a spiritual  encounter with God. We stay in the outer court. We pray our needs, our wants, our agenda of what we want God to do according to our own understanding. Never acknowledging that we are stopping short of entering the holy place. This takes a humbling of flesh to bow in worship. to be quieted, so we can wait and listen for Him.

Do you have a hunger for a deeper relationship with God? First, remember what scripture already tells us, we have (past tense) been brought near by Jesus’ sacrifice. So, we can come near Him with confidence. Secondly, do what you can to pause and shift from your own “outer court” ideas. Humble yourself. Tell Him that you want to depend on Him to show you how to pray, and to wait.

As I write, my background music comes to the foreground. I listen to “Eyes of Mercy”

Have a listen and practice the quiet place? Much love!