The Preparation | Part One

Joshua 5:1-12

On the Jericho side of the Jordan River, Joshua receives specific instructions from God. He is to circumcise the men of Israel.


Circumcision was the physical sign of the covenant (a formal, legally binding declaration of promises and conditions made between two or more people) God made with Abraham, generations previously. It was the physical identification with the promise (nation, land, and blessing for all nations). While Israel was in the wilderness, they abandoned the practice and it was time to return to it.

After performing and healing from the circumcision, Israel observed the Passover, remembering God's grace in delivering them from slavery in Egypt.

Biblical history books like Joshua preserve a record of God's character and ways through real events. What do we learn about God in Joshua 5? Many things, no doubt; but we'll focus on one for this post: God keeps His covenants.

Circumcision was the physical sign of the Abrahamic Covenant. Passover was the memorial observance of the mighty actions God took to keep His covenant, leading his people out toward the Promised Land. But we're not under the Abrahamic Covenant like they were. We're not promised the land of Canaan. Why should this matter to us?

Because Jesus invited us into a new covenant. Generations after Joshua and the Israelites observe Passover in the shadow of Jericho; Jesus sits down with His followers to partake in the Passover meal. While they're eating He begins to make cryptic remarks about how the bread and cup of the meal represents His body and blood (see Luke 22:14-20).

"This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood." (Luke 22:20)

Jesus invites us into a new covenant based on His sacrifice on the cross. This new covenant is connected to the old. Abraham was promised that God would make a nation out of his people, place them in a special land, and bless all nations through His descendants.

Jesus is the blessing for all nations. The new covenant is the invitation to the nations to receive the blessing promised to Abraham generations before.

We'll look at three aspects of the new covenant in the following post.