Flint Knives Series

Background to passage: The Israelites have just crossed the Jordan on dry ground, set up the stones for remembrance for the generations, and are preparing for what God has next in his plan for them to inherit the land of promise. Doubt they saw this coming. What does it mean? Why would God ask them to do this?

Joshua 5:1–9 ESV

As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.

At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.”

So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.

And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt.

Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised.

For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord; the Lord swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.

When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.

And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.

Colossians 2:11–15 ESV

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Opening illustration: Bring Knox’s knife collection

Main thought: This morning we will look at the OT and NT perspectives of circumcision

1) Old Testament Circumcision (Joshua 5:2)

Joshua 5:2 ESV

At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.”

1) Old Testament Circumcision (Joshua 5:2)

Explanation: According to Gen 17:11, God would make a covenant with Abraham and his descendents to be their God and to give them the land. It was an external, physical sign that God’s people were set apart to him as a chosen race to bring about the salvation of the world. Any man of Israel, or those dwelling within Israelite homes, must be circumcised. If they weren’t, they were cut off from the covenant people because they had broken the covenant. No blessings, no land, no God among them.

Genesis 17:11 ESV

You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.

Genesis 17:14 ESV

Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

Illustration: “a symbol of the need for the heart to be cleansed from sin’s deadly disease. The really essential surgery needed to happen on the inside, where God calls for taking away fleshly things that keep the heart from being spiritually devoted to Him and from true faith in Him and His will.”

Application: Important because they had lost some, gained some, failed to circumcise and be faithful to the covenant. So, before they are used of God to take the land, in addition to the consecration before this river crossing, they are reminded of who they are and to whom they belong.