Pain in the path to victory

Pain in the path to victory
“ Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again" – Joshua 5:2
Dear friends,
This is a prelude to the glorious victory at Jericho. In an enemy land surrounded by foes who may gather together at any time to raid their settlements and annihilate them, God advices a surgical procedure that would incapacitate them for a while and will necessitate them to take rest. (Remember how Levi and Simeon destroyed Shechem in Genesis ). It sounds as an unwise military strategy to immobilise the whole huge army at a time with such a painful procedure such as circumcision. They could have very well underwent the procedure after the land received rest from war .But God s ways are different .
The Lord wants us to lose a part of us (our self , uncommitted areas of life) before he blesses us with a mighty victory. When the Lord deals with certain sensitive issues of our life, it may be painful. When God circumcises our hearts it may bleed. Yes! To die to self and be crucified with Christ may not be a very pleasant experience after all. But before the victory parade, there has to take place a divine procedure in our hearts. When the Lord circumcises unwholesome yet dear things , relationships , friends , persons , feelings.. it will pain . . Man... Crucifixion does not take place under general anesthesia . .
But only after this experience is the reproach of Egypt they left 40 yrs ago truly rolled away. (Gilgal ). Only after this The angel of the Lord meets Joshua ensuring sanctification ( removal of sandals) and victory. Only after this the walls of Jericho fall and supernatural victories follow . .
Give an unconditional consent to undergo divine surgery in God s hands and taste divine victory ..

ANTONY