You Have to Stop at Gilgal Before You Defeat Jericho

The book of Joshua.  I love the book of of Joshua!  Do you know how many times Joshua says, "Be strong. Be courageous.  Do not be afraid.  Do not be discouraged!"  What is more powerful than reading Joshua 10:25? Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.”  As I thought about Joshua's words, about God conquering our enemies,  I was excited about how that applies to us today.

"Write about Gilgal," God spoke quietly to my heart.

Gilgal?

"You have to go back to Gilgal",  He reminded me.

Gilgal.  The Israelites had crossed over the Jordan River on dry ground, much like the generation before had crossed over the Red Sea.  But this generation is poised for victory.  The Promised Land is in sight.  The generation before saw enemies who were giants and cities protected by strong walls.  This generation saw an enemy that God was giving into their hands and a land that was theirs for the taking.  But first, God commanded that they stop at Gilgal.

Can't you imagine 2 . 5 million Israelites, excited, focused, ready to FINALLY defeat the enemies they had been training to fight for 40 years?  Think of all the men, sharpening their swords,  preparing their gear for the time that they are to go into battle.  The women, concerned, yet encouraging, getting together food and supplies that they knew the men might need (but wouldn't think about).

Then God said, first things first.  First, you have to stop at Gilgal.

Three things of significance happened at Gilgal.  First, Joshua took twelve stones that he had ordered removed from the Jordan and made an altar.  This altar was to serve as a reminder of not only how God had dried up the Jordan River for them to walk over, but also His faithfulness to the children of Israel.

Second, God ordered that all the men be circumcised.  Remember, the previous generation of Israelites had been circumcised, but the men born in the desert had not.  God ordered that they be circumcised as a reminder that He had removed the stigma of their slavery.  He said He "rolled away the reproach of Egypt."  No longer did they have to carry the identity of being children of former slaves.  They were free to experience the promise that God had given them.

Third, the Israelites celebrated Passover.  Remember, this was one of the feasts that God commanded them to celebrate.  One of the requirements to observe Passover was circumcision, so now the children of Israel could once again celebrate this feast.  On this Passover, they ate food that the land produced, unleavened bread and roasted grain.  At this point, manna stopped, and they became dependent on the land for their food.

Gilgal was a place of remembrance.  Reflecting on what God had done in sparing their firstborn, delivering them out of Egypt, providing for them, leading them safely to the edge of the Promised Land.

It was a place where their reproach was removed.  They were no longer former slaves.  They no longer had a slave mentality.  God had shown them how to be free.

It was a place of celebration.

They had to experience Gilgal before God gave them the victory at Jericho.

Have you ever been on the edge of claiming what you believe is God's promises for you when He says, "Wait; first, you have to go to Gilgal"?  Sometimes, God has something else He wants to do before He completes His plan for us.  Maybe there is something He wants to remind us of.  Maybe it is something He needs to cut away.  Maybe He wants to remove our reproach.  Perhaps he wants to take away that thing that we have identified with and set us free from thinking about ourselves in terms of it.

The Israelites camped at Gilgal, but they went on to defeat Jericho.  They went on to fight (and win) several other battles,  but after each victory, they would return to Gilgal.

I believe God wants us to return frequently to that place of remembrance.  I also know He wants to keep us free.  Free from those things that could hold us back.  Free from identities of bondage.  He wants us to celebrate what He has done so He can take us where He wants us to go.  Then we can say with the psalmist: With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies. (Psalm 60:12)