Then the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day.
Joshua 5:9 (NKJV)
The Lord will roll away your reproach.
A reproach is a condition of shame and disgrace. It can be in several forms; sexual (2 Samuel 13:13; Isaiah 47:3; Ezekiel 16:57; Proverbs 6:33); barrenness of womb (Genesis 30:23, Isaiah 4:1, Luke 1:25); widowhood (Isaiah 54:4); hunger (Ezekiel 36:30); disease (Job 19:5), ritual/uncircumcision (Genesis 34:14, Joshua 5:9); or injuries from enemies (Lamentations 3:30; Lamentations 5:1; Nehemiah 1:3; Job 16:10; Daniel 11:18).
When the Children of Israel were about to enter the Promised Land, God told Joshua to circumcise all the males who were born in the wilderness. All the people who came out of Egypt had been circumcised, but the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they came out of Egypt, had not been circumcised.
When they had finished circumcising all the people, The Lord told Joshua that from “This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” Before God took away their reproach, the Children of Israel had wondered in the wilderness for 40 years until all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt died, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord.
Before Jesus Christ began His public ministry, He too was tempted by the devil in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights (Matthew 4:1-11). The servant is not greater than his master therefore as followers of Jesus Christ, we too must go through our wilderness experience.
The wilderness is a terrible place where there are “fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water” (Deuteronomy 8:15). The wilderness is a painful experience to go through however it is necessary because it is the place where the Lord humbles us and allows us to suffer hunger to make us to know that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of The Lord (Deuteronomy 8:3).
However just like God removed the reproach from the Children of Israel and allowed them to enter the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness; and just like Jesus returned from the wilderness in the power of the Spirit and began His public ministry after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, God will also remove our reproach after we have gone through our wilderness experience. We also will enter our Promised Land, which is the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven (Revelation 21:2).
When going through the wilderness experience and it seems like God has abandoned you, please remember that you are never alone because God said He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6). Secondly please remember to keep your heart right with God because the circumcision that God is looking for is a circumcision of the heart (Romans 2:29). True circumcision is when our heart is right with God which is produced by God’s Spirit living in our hearts.
Today, if you are facing any situation of shame and disgrace, do not despair. You may be presently going through your wilderness experience. Remember that the purpose of the wilderness is to humble you. What God is looking for is to develop your character for you to have a right heart towards Him. After you have passed the test God will take away the reproach you inherited when you were out in the world before you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I thank You for Your Word today. Please help me to be patient in my wilderness and to remember that You allow me to suffer reproach to humble me and for me to develop my dependency on You. Please help me to keep a good attitude towards You and to trust You even when I do not understand. From today, please roll away the reproach from the world from me and release me to fulfil Your destiny for my life, in Jesus name, Amen.
Listen to the Message
You can also listen to this message on YouTube here:
How Do You Become Saved?
If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour please find out how you can do so here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7xkysPdIOs&list=PLCLJI-sErTh2cA2pfU2tc3aSC6Mh0PPG6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JC6FLoLirc&list=PLCLJI-sErTh2cA2pfU2tc3aSC6Mh0PPG6&index=2
Healing Prayer / You Are The One
If you are in need of healing, please listen to the healing prayer by Nadia Hinds, who I am blessed to have as one of my Spiritual Life Coaching client’s. She has recently launched her own YouTube channel. Please subscribe to her channel as she will be releasing powerful prayers and sermons through this channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGWQHslA_ed3EIW9QEvnXdQ
Do you know God’s purpose for your life? If not, please download your free book: How to Discover Your Life’s Purpose Through Dreams
God bless,
Blessing
blessingtheo 