Consecration
Joshua 5:1–12
Joshua . . . circumcised the sons of Israel. . . . They kept the Passover. Joshua 5:3, 10

The consecration of the people of Israel at Gilgal was made by reenactment of the covenant signs of circumcision and the Passover. This took place after the crossing of the river but prior to the assault on Jericho.

The interesting thing about this reaffirmation of the covenant is that it was the exact opposite of what worldly wisdom would advise. Worldly wisdom would have called for an immediate attack while the people of the land were disheartened and before they could make last-minute preparations. Instead, God called for a three-day delay while Israel observed the two sacraments. Moreover, the sacrament of circumcision totally disabled the army for a time.

On the one hand, this was the moment Israel should have attacked the Canaanite forces in Jericho. On the other hand, if the armies of Jericho had known of the circumcision of the Jewish army, they should have burst from their stronghold and attacked the weakened troops. Humanly speaking, the actions of the Jews were utter folly.

But the wisdom of God is not like human wisdom, and it was far more important that the hearts of the people be right with God than that they gain a momentary military advantage. That was what the ceremonies were all about. Circumcision was the mark of the covenant; it signified membership in the covenant people of Israel, just as baptism signifies membership in the covenant community of the church today. It was a divine seal on those whom God had chosen as his people, and it was a human response to the promises of God conveyed in that election. The Passover was a meal of remembrance, just as the Lord’s Supper is a sacrament of remembrance for the church of Jesus Christ today. At Gilgal the people were to remember God’s covenant, promises, and past acts of deliverance, in order that they might live as his people in the days that lay ahead.

We also need to learn that lesson. Americans are always anxious to rush ahead with some program, and the larger the effort and the faster it is executed, the better. We need to learn that this is not always God’s way. What we do is important. But what we are is more important still. It is more important that God have our hearts and minds than our swords.