A people prepared to get up
In the fifth week of “Get Up!“, our study in Joshua, we find ourselves in a period of waiting with the Israelites as they stand on the brink of entering the Promised Land. As Pastor Sean pointed out, Joshua 5 is not a moment of immediate triumph but of preparation and pause.
The Israelites, having wandered for 40 years, are now called to a significant act of obedience and identity—circumcision before taking the land. This act, commanded by God, is not merely a physical ritual but a profound symbol of the covenant between God and His people, a mark that sets them apart and prepares them for the mission ahead.
The narrative takes us back to Genesis 17, where God establishes His covenant with Abraham, promising to make his descendants a great nation. Circumcision becomes the sign of this covenant, a physical reminder of their unique relationship with God. As the Israelites prepare to enter Canaan, this act of circumcision serves to renew their identity, rolling away the disgrace of their past in Egypt and marking them as God’s chosen people.
This preparation is holistic, encompassing emotional, mental, spiritual and physical dimensions. Emotionally and mentally, the Israelites are being reshaped from a people of slavery to a nation ready to claim God’s promises. Spiritually, the act of circumcision and the observance of Passover reconnect them with God, reminding them of their covenant and their place in His family. Physically, they transition from manna to the produce of the land, symbolizing a new phase of provision and sustenance.
For us today, this story is a powerful reminder of the importance of preparation and obedience in our spiritual journey. Just as the Israelites were marked by circumcision, we are marked by the Holy Spirit, who prepares and empowers us for our own missions. We are called to be set apart, to live lives that reflect God’s holiness and righteousness. In times of waiting and preparation, we must trust in God’s timing and provision, knowing that He is shaping us for His purposes.
Reflection Questions
- Reflect on a time when you felt you were in a period of waiting in your spiritual journey. How did you see God preparing you during that time, and what did you learn about His timing?
- The Israelites were marked by circumcision as a sign of their covenant with God. How do you experience the Holy Spirit marking your life today, and how does it influence your daily actions and decisions?
- Consider the holistic preparation of the Israelites — emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically. Which area do you feel God is currently working on in your life, and how can you cooperate with Him in this process?
- The Israelites transitioned from manna to the produce of the land, symbolizing a new phase of provision. What new provisions or opportunities has God provided in your life recently, and how are you responding to them?
- How can you actively live a life that is “set apart” in your community, reflecting God’s holiness and righteousness? What specific actions can you take this week to demonstrate this?
Watch the Message
Worship Songs from February 16
- “Who is Like the Lord”
- “That’s the Power”
- “Authority”
- “Worthy”