Day 4 – Joshua 5:10

¹⁰ On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. ^[1]

The Israelites had miraculously crossed over the Jordan River but seemingly got stuck on the plains of Jericho. From a militaristic point of view they were missing an unusual opportunity they might never have again. Their enemies were demoralized to the point that they lost the will to fight. Conventional wisdom would suggest this was the right time to go on the offensive and attack their enemy. Obviously God had another plan and purpose. We read in the previous verses how God commanded Joshua to circumcise the men again which would require recuperation time. While they are healing they celebrated the Passover. It would seem that the timing for both of these instructions were ill timed, but before the Israelites could take possession of the promise of Abraham they needed to be properly positioned within the religious culture and tradition. Israel was to celebrate the Passover, and by so doing relived their deliverance by blood from the hands of the Egyptians.

Celebrating the Passover, recounting the deliverance from the hands of the Egyptians, in addition to returning to the ritualistic practice of circumcising all the males, was the methodology God used to accomplish their realignment. The celebration of the Passover contributes to this realignment precisely because remembering the past is excellent preparation of faith for the tests of the future. I believe the enemy of our souls loves for the people of God to get stuck in the past, whether the remembrance is nostalgic or regretful. It is important to remember our past regardless how we view it. Remembering the mistakes and miscues of the past serve to prevent us from repeating them. Remembering where God was manifestly present to bring deliverance, which is most important, serves to remind us that there is nothing that God cannot do.

While we no longer celebrate the Passover we do celebrate the Lord’s Supper that reminds us, much like the Passover reminded the Israelites, of our deliverance by the blood of the Lamb from the hands of the enemy. As we consecrate ourselves to the service of the Lord let us remember how the Lord found us, delivered us and brought us into the manifestation of His promise. Now possessing it will require creatively remembering all that He has done so we might progress into the future He has prepared for us.

Dear Lord, thank You for delivering and rescuing me from the hands of my enemies. Help me to never forgot all that You have done for me. As I prepare myself to enter fully into the land You have prepared for me and to which You have brought me, remind me of the cultural tradition of which I am a part. When I grow weary and frustrated remind me You are the same God with the same ability who did great things for the patriarchs of old, and that just as You moved on their behalf so You will move on mine. Amen. 

© 2014 – Dr. James H. Logan, Jr.