Book of JoshuaSample

REMOVING THE REPROACH OF EGYPT

When the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for 430 years, they were always pressed, both physically and mentally. They were constantly intimidated, beaten and humiliated. They felt inferior, meaningless and hopeless.

The past is an integral part of our lives, whether it was beautiful, sad or dark. A bad past experience is something that makes things in our current life more difficult. One of the main hindrances to overcoming is the chain and blemish of the past.

Joshua, chapter 5, describes God’s command for Joshua to circumcise the Israelites. After all Israelites were circumcised the Lord said to Joshua: “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you” (Joshua 5:9). Circumcision was God’s covenant with Abraham as a symbol of the obedience and sanctification of the chosen people. With circumcision, the Israelites were freed from the traumatic reproach of Egypt where they had been slaves for a very long time. Eliminating the reproach of Egypt is a parallel for us, a separation from our past with its scorn, condemnation, and accusations.

For the present believers, the outward circumcision has been replaced by the circumcision of Christ (Colossians 2:11) where we are justified, sanctified and gain independence from the shackles of sin.

After the blemish is cut away, you are ready to experience life in abundance.