Read Joshua 5:6-7 – For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord—to whom the Lord swore that He would not show them the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers that He would give us, “a land flowing with milk and honey.” Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way. (NKJV)
As men, this probably isn’t our favorite passage, but it contains a valuable truth for men and women alike. We often think that the Israelites failure under Moses was to trust that God would give them the Promised Land, but their rebellion didn’t start when the spies brought back their report. According to this passage, the people had been disobedient throughout the wilderness journey, neglecting the act of circumcision, which God had established as a sign of their relationship. Rebellion seldom starts with big decisions for us either. Our small disobediences can reveal that our hearts are drifting from God. When we don’t take the small things seriously, we are walking toward bigger mistakes. That’s why we must see that every choice has a destination. It’s a part of a road either leading toward or away from God.
– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.
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