Title Joshua 05:1-9
The place that impressed me the most during the pilgrimage to the Holy Land was Mount Sinai. From a human point of view, it was a land of despair, with no trees and no water, and the intense sun during the day and the bitter cold at night. It was there that Moses met God and received the Ten Commandments, so he was deeply impressed.
The environment is, of course, important to a person's life. However, it cannot be the only measure of absolute success. In the land where Israel had to go, there were strong Canaanites who ate well. There was a good army and a well-constructed castle, and in March and April, the Jordan River overflowed with natural defense conditions that made it impossible to attack.
But Israel crossed the Jordan River like land. In fact, the person to be afraid of is Israel, but you will see that the people of Jericho are trembling in fear. The environment is incomparable. If we have a wonderful environment, we should not let go of anything we are grateful for or give up on our hearts. Because that's the only thing that can't protect us. Instead, we need to develop the ability to look to the Lord in any circumstances. This is because, no matter what circumstance he is in, if he can focus on the Lord and see only the Lord, he will surely accomplish great works regardless of the circumstances.
The Israelites who crossed the Jordan River drive the momentum and, in fact, have to go to Jericho right away, but God stops them at Gilgal. And to circumcise. All males in Israel were circumcised according to the command that they must be circumcised on the eighth day after birth. They were unable to move, and if the people of Jericho came down with weapons, they had no choice but to be slaughtered.
Still, they obeyed and instead lay down and looked to God. “If they open the castle gates and attack now, we will all die. Almighty God, as I lie down and look only to you, grant me your power!” In the end, they were able to experience the great power of victory in an impossible environment.
Israel must now go on a path they have never traveled before. And you have to go through a lot of hardships. But it's not just their abilities. It was a path that could only be done with God's help. So, the Lord taught them how to receive the Lord's power completely through the Gilgal circumcision, and in the end Israel was able to finish the conquest of Canaan safely without forgetting this lesson.
There are times in life when you experience so much pain that you can't even stand up. However, even in such an environment, what is important is the attitude of faith that looks only at the Lord even when lying down.
You cannot enter Canaan, the Promised Land, if you sit down because it is a little difficult, doubt God's power when you have a little problem, and leave God when you see a small gap. That is why we need to cultivate the ability to see only the Lord in any environment rather than the amazing sights. Then, the power of God who crossed the Jordan and destroyed the walls of Jericho and gave Canaan will surely come upon us.