Joshua 5:1-8: a reflection

1When all the kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were by the sea, heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had crossed over, their heart melted, and there was no more spirit in them, because of the children of Israel. 2At that time, the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives, and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time.” 3Joshua made himself flint knives, and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 4This is the reason Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt, who were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way, after they came out of Egypt. 5For 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. 6For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness until all the nation, even the men of war who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they didn’t listen to the LORD’s voice. The LORD swore to them that he wouldn’t let them see the land which the LORD swore to their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7Their children, whom he raised up in their place, were circumcised by Joshua, for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them on the way. 8When they were done circumcising the whole nation, they stayed in their places in the camp until they were healed.

As Israel stands at last on the edge of the promised land, before they take possession of it, God calls them to a fresh consecration: the renewal of the covenant mark that the wilderness generation had neglected. A new generation had grown up in the wilderness; and before they entered into what God had promised, they were consecrated afresh to him, the mark of the covenant renewed. This was a new beginning, a fresh consecration for a new generation entering into the promise. Before taking hold of what God had promised, they were set apart to him afresh, marking a new start. There is a fittingness in this: that entering into what God has promised is marked by a fresh consecration to him, a new dedication, a renewed belonging. As God's people came to the threshold of the promise, they were freshly consecrated to him. A new beginning in God's promise is fittingly marked by a fresh consecration to him. To enter into what God promises is fittingly marked by renewed dedication to him. Fresh consecration marks a new beginning in God's purposes.

Notice the timing of this consecration: before they entered the promised land. A new generation stood on the threshold of what God had promised; and before they took hold of it, they were consecrated afresh to God, the covenant mark renewed. This was a fresh dedication, a new beginning, marking their entry into the promise. This suggests something about how we enter into what God has for us: that it is fittingly marked by a fresh consecration, a renewed dedication to him, a new beginning of belonging. As we come to new thresholds in God's purposes, new seasons, new promises, new beginnings, it is fitting to consecrate ourselves afresh to God, to renew our dedication and belonging, not to enter carelessly but with a fresh setting-apart to him. The new generation did not enter the promise as they were, but were consecrated afresh first. There is a rightness in marking new beginnings in God's purposes with renewed consecration, fresh dedication, a deliberate setting apart to him. To enter God's promises with fresh consecration is fitting. New beginnings call for renewed dedication to God. Fresh dedication fittingly marks our entry into what God has for us.

That is worth taking to heart, for entering into what God has promised is fittingly marked by a fresh consecration and renewed dedication to him. We can enter new seasons, new beginnings, new thresholds in God's purposes carelessly, without fresh dedication; but the new generation was consecrated afresh to God before entering the promise, marking their new beginning with renewed belonging. It is fitting to mark new beginnings in God's purposes with a fresh consecration to him, a renewed dedication. When you come to a new beginning in God's purposes, consecrate yourself afresh to him, renewing your dedication, as Israel was consecrated before entering the promise. Mark your entry into what God has for you, your new beginnings and thresholds in his purposes, with a fresh consecration and renewed dedication to him, as the new generation of Israel was consecrated afresh before entering the promised land; for entering into what God has promised is fittingly marked not by careless entry but by a renewed setting-apart to him, a fresh dedication and belonging, so that as we come to new seasons and beginnings in God's purposes, it is right to consecrate ourselves afresh to him, renewing our dedication rather than entering carelessly, marking each new beginning with a deliberate turning and belonging to God.

Lord, as Israel stands at last on the edge of the promised land, before they take possession of it, you call them to a fresh consecration: the renewal of the covenant mark that the wilderness generation had neglected. A new generation had grown up in the wilderness; and before they entered into what you had promised, they were consecrated afresh to you, the mark of the covenant renewed. This was a new beginning, a fresh consecration for a new generation entering into the promise. Before taking hold of what you had promised, they were set apart to you afresh. Show me the timing of this consecration: before they entered the promised land. A new generation stood on the threshold of what you had promised; and before they took hold of it, they were consecrated afresh to you. This suggests something about how I enter into what you have for me: that it is fittingly marked by a fresh consecration, a renewed dedication to you, a new beginning of belonging. As I come to new thresholds in your purposes, new seasons, new beginnings, it is fitting to consecrate myself afresh to you, not to enter carelessly but with a fresh setting-apart to you. There is a rightness in marking new beginnings with renewed consecration. Take that to my heart, for entering into what you have promised is fittingly marked by a fresh consecration and renewed dedication to you. I can enter new seasons, new beginnings, carelessly, without fresh dedication; but the new generation was consecrated afresh to you before entering the promise. When I come to a new beginning in your purposes, help me consecrate myself afresh to you, Lord, renewing my dedication, as Israel was consecrated before entering the promised land, marking each new beginning with a deliberate turning and belonging to you rather than entering carelessly.