Roastin' Ears and Hearts

O. T. #453  "Roastin' Ears and Hearts"
February 5, 2015
Joshua 5-Part 1
...their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.  Joshua 5:1

LET IT GLOW

Is there anything better to eat than roastin' ears off the hot grill? That's ears of corn, for you who are not from the south. When my husband's siblings get together each summer, we usually grill out at least one meal. Of course, luscious, fat ears of corn with butter dripping off the elbows is a must for the menu. Better have a roll of paper towels ready to pass around, too. Ummmm! Can't wait for 4 months to come.

There were two main groups living in this region-the Canaanites and the Amorites. Now their kings  had heard what transpired with the Israelites and the Jordan River. (How God dried it up so they could cross over into their territory.) I supposed they heard how the ancestors of the Israelites were afraid of the ancestors of the Canaanites. As a result, Israel wandered around in the wilderness for 39-40 year. I wonder if they concluded that the God of the Israelites was no stronger than any of their idol gods. (If so, that would have been the wrong conclusion.)

Did the Canaanites hope the river would slow down Israel or even discourage them from entering their land? But news that the Israelites had crossed on dry land caused any of the Canaanites courage, heart, to melt.
Melted used here in the Hebrew language, means to liquefy, to waste, to faint, discourage.

Don't underestimate our God. He fulfilled His promise in 4:23. So those enemies' hearts melted like butter on a hot grilled ear of corn. I see.

No spirit in them means simply that they feared the Israelites and had lost the will to fight.
 (David Jeremiah)

The Lord rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off of Israel. What? Reproach means disgrace, shame.

What a way to start the day!
Are we trusting our God to do the same with our enemies?

LET IT GROW

There were two activities which the Lord told Joshua to do-circumcise the children of Israel and the Passover.  Both were an act of obedience.
Here they were getting ready for battle and they were to be what? That meant the fighting men would have to take some time off first. While the men were unable to engage in combat, God worked it out (above discussion).However, it was a needful mark of the covenant between them and their God.

Circumcision pictures putting off that which is sinful, and in the NT it illustrates putting off the "old man" of the flesh (Col. 3:1; Rom. 8:13). Through Christ, the NT Christian has put off "the body of the sins of the flesh" (Col. 2:9-13). This operation at Gilgal, then, is an illustration of the truth that each believer must live "crucified with Christ" (Gal. 2:20).
Did you know that the Jewish males had not received this mark of the covenant during all their wilderness years? Their unbelief had temporarily suspended their covenant relationship with God (Num. 14:32-34). (Wiersbe)

Circumcision was a physical sign of the nation's covenant with God (Gen. 17:9-14), marking them as His people. It symbolized what God's people were to do to their hearts (Deut. 10:16) and anticipated a time when God would circumcise the hearts of His people, enabling them to love Him (Deut. 30:6). New Testament believers have this accomplished for them by Jesus' death and resurrection, and the Holy Spirit's power. (Rom. 2:29) (Jeremiah)

It had been 40 years since the first Passover meal night. What were the unleavened cakes made of? Corn from the land. Also, Israel enjoyed roasted ears of corn for the first time in 40 years. Can you imagine the excitement in camp that night at dinner?
Truly, they were in a land flowing with milk and honey. The land was rich in grass and flowers for the cows, sheep, and goats; honey from the wild bees was found in large quantities.

Think it's time to have hubby stop at the store for some corn of the cob, even if it is from the frozen isle.

Are we faithful to our God as Israel was in observing circumcision and the Passover?

LET IT GO

Don't let my heart melt with discouragement. Stay hot for Jesus! He is alive!

Be faithful to Jesus and His Word.