Scripture

The very next day they began to eat unleavened bread and roasted grain harvested from the land. No manna appeared on the day they first ate from the crops of the land, and it was never seen again. So from that time on, the Israelites ate from the crops of Canaan.

Observation

The Lord tells Joshua to circumcise the Israelite men. All the men who had been old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt had been circumcised, but they were now dead. The next generation born in the wilderness had not been circumcised.

The Lord then says to Joshua,”Now I have rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt.”

There at Gilgal, the Israelites celebrate Passover for the first time in the Promised Land. The next day they begin to eat unleavened bread and roasted grain harvested from the land. That day, the manna stops and is never seen again.

Application

Gods provision of manna over the forty years in the wilderness had never failed. Like clockwork, every morning except the Sabbath, it appeared.

Suddenly, this free gift is taken away, because it is no longer needed. Instead, God has provided for them grain ready to be harvested, His first provision in the land flowing with milk and honey.

Gods provision is always adequate for what we need. When one form of provision ends, another takes its place.

He is faithful. He loves us and desires to meet our needs .

We never have to be afraid that He will let us down.

Prayer

Thank you Father for your extraordinary grace. In you I will always have enough. Amen.

Scripture

“Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.”

Observation

The children of Israel have crossed the Jordan and entered the Promised Land. The neighbouring kings have heard how the Lord has helped His people, and they are afraid.

The Lord commands Joshua to circumcise all those who were born in the wilderness. They remain camped at Gilgal until everyone is healed.

The Lord says to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.”

The Israelites celebrate the Passover in Gilgal, and from that day the manna ceases.

Application

Circumcision was a physical sign of the covenant for the Jews. They had not circumcised their babies in the wilderness, so in one of their first acts in the Promised Land, they remedy the situation.

The Lord’s commentary on this is that it rolls away the disgrace of Egypt from them.

We carry all kinds of emotional scars and feelings of shame and worthlessness. He Lord wants to roll away from us the disgrace of the world.

When we come to Christ we are a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come. For many people, it takes time to let the new creation to seep through their hearts and out into their lives.

We need to embrace all that God is doing in our lives so that He can roll away our disgrace.

Prayer

Lord I confess my hurt to you and I ask you to roll away all disgrace, shame and guilt in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Scripture

And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and worship him.”

Observation

Joshua gathers together all the leaders of Israel at Shechem, where he recounts to them what the Lord has done for them in bringing the out of Egypt and into their own land.

He encourages them to serve the Lord, but if that seems too hard they must decide which gods they will serve. They reply that they will serve the Lord.

Joshua warns them that if they choose to serve the Lord but later turn away from Him, then He will judge them. They say again, “We will serve the Lord.” They then make a covenant there to always serve the Lord.

Later on, Joshua dies at the age of 110.

Application

The people of Israel were positive in their assertion that they would serve the Lord. Subsequent generations moved away from that certainty.

It isn’t always easy to follow the Lord. The “gods” of this age demand our worship, and our flesh is quick to acquiesce.

When we fall, there is forgiveness, but it is better not to fall. We must try to keep our heart pure and stay alert for the tricks of the enemy. We need to wear the full armour of God (Ephesians 6) so that there is no room for undermining by satan.

Prayer

Father, you have called me to serve you and to walk in your ways. Help me to keep my focus on you alone at all times. Amen.