Shalom Dear Brothers and Sisters The First Passover In Joshua chapter 5 the Israelite children crossed over the Jordan River. This was a new generation, they had heard of the great fame and the miracles their God had done for them. They had watched their fathers die in the wilderness because of their disobedience. They knew Moses and now they were left to follow Joshua, they had never known anything except Manna yet their hearts were set on obedience. Even though their fathers had been circumcised after they crossed the Red Sea their hearts were not and they were disobedient and grumbled and complained so they never got to even see the promised land. Now this generation had not been yet circumcised physically so this was the first task that Joshua had to do every male who had been born in the wilderness and was of age ready to fight needed to be circumcised. They never questioned Joshua or God as to why this was necessary they put their trust in their God. They entered into the land and crossed through the Jordan River on dryland picking up the stones and making an alter, one rock for each tribe as a tribute to the Lord God and reminder for the people that God had brought them through again keeping His promises to their forefathers. After they did all of this, for the first time they ate the produce of the land and the grain. This was the end of the Manna, no more would God have to feed them from heaven. How strange it must have been to taste real grain and to celebrate the first Passover as commanded by God through Moses. I know when we celebrate Passover we forget about this Scripture, this year I will surely remember it. I remember when I was in ICU I had been sick for a week and a half before I had the stroke and been unable to eat anything. When I got my ability to swallow back, because I had lost that to, I remember how good cold water tasted after 14 weeks. I remember how strong food tasted after not eating for so long. So I can imagine the Israelite children probably didn't have a large meal the first Passover this was the first time they had eaten anything other than Manna. This was the first year they ate the produce of the land. They were true to God's word and obedient, how pleased the Father must have been watching His children celebrating the first Passover and eating the produce from the land giving thanks. How for the first time they did not argue against Joshua but obediently circumcised their flesh so that they would be set apart as the children of God. Winter has just started but in a few weeks we will celebrate the feast of dedication. For those who are circumcised in the flesh that is wonderful but more importantly God wants our hearts to be circumcised! Winter is a time when everything seems to die. Some things do die, some things going to dormancy, I think winter is a good time for us to lay our hearts open before the Lord and I asked him what needs to die in our lives so that He might plant things that will produce fruit in the spring! We need to lay our hearts open and allow God to circumcised them it is the only way He can write His Torah on our hearts B'Shem Yeshua Hamashiach, Amen In His Love, Theresa
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