WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: ‘I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship’ (Romans 12:1, NIV). Offer yourself afresh to the Lord as you come into his presence now.

Strange but significant
Circumcising such a large number of people seems to us to be a very strange thing to do, especially as it delayed the attack on Jericho (v 8), but in fact it was a deeply significant event.

The people’s revolt in the desert back in Moses’ time had had very serious consequences (see v 6). But now that sin has run its course.

The sign of the covenant
So this is a new era: a new generation has a new challenge, a renewed task – to enter into possession of the land the Lord has brought them to.

Now they do so marked (the males at least) with the sign of the covenant. Now they are assured afresh of God’s covenant commitment, of his presence and protection: they are indeed right at the heart of his plans and promises.

A new start
That sense of God’s commitment to them is reinforced first by celebrating Passover together (v 10) and then by eating the fruit of the land the Lord gives them, rather than the manna of the wilderness years (v 12). This really is a new start with God.

Respond: With our God, new starts are always possible. In what ways do you need to start afresh? Pray that he’ll give you the fresh start you need.

http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-02-07