In Joshua 5 we find revealed to us how victory in Canaan is obtained. Consequently, this chapter opens with a mention of the enemies. All the kings of the Canaanites and the Amorites are there, but the power given them by Satan has already been broken at Jordan, in death, in the person of their prince. In spite of that, they are too strong for the children of Israel, but God is going to enable them to obtain the victory. And how? By depriving them of all the weapons and resources which they would have found in themselves. Flesh cannot enlist in the warfare; God judges it and sets it aside, and this is the meaning of circumcision. Circumcision is “the putting off of the body of the flesh” in Christ. It is an accomplished fact for every believer, just as much as the Jordan is for each of us, whether or not we realize its import.
The teaching of Colossians 2:9-159For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:9‑15) on this point is very clear and beautiful. “In Him,” says the Apostle, “dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” All is in Christ; nothing is lacking in Him. But in verse 10, it is we who have all in Him; nothing lacks for us, for “ye are complete in Him.” We cannot, then, seek to add anything to ourselves apart from Him. Now we come to circumcision. “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.” Not only, says the Apostle, is there nothing to add, but there is nothing to cut off from those who are in Him. The body of the flesh is judged, and you are deprived of it. It is a thing done; it is the circumcision of Christ. In verse 12 we find that this end of the old man (which takes place for us in the death of Christ) becomes personal for the Christian. “Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead.” This passage embraces the thing in its extent and corresponds with the two truths represented by the Jordan, namely, death and resurrection with Christ. Here, then, we have the establishment of two great truths: We are complete before God in Christ, and we are perfectly delivered from all that we are in ourselves.
True Circumcision
Philippians 3:33For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3) establishes the contrast between the circumcision made with hands and the true circumcision, that of Christ. “We are the circumcision,” says the Apostle, “who worship God in the Spirit.” Fleshly circumcision under the law had never done that. One must have done with the flesh to be able to worship in the Spirit. Then he adds, “And who rejoice in Christ Jesus.” Even religious flesh never glories in anything but itself.
Finally, the Apostle concludes by saying, “And who have no confidence in the flesh.” This is true circumcision. It is the setting aside by judgment in the cross of Christ what the Word of God calls “the flesh,” so that henceforth we cannot have any confidence whatever in it. This is a most important truth to get hold of. When it is a question of warfare, as it was for the children of Israel, we must bear on us the stigma of the death of the flesh. Notice, too, there is no thought here of trying to have done with ourselves or of stripping ourselves. The “putting off” was accomplished at the cross; sin in the flesh was condemned there. It is a fact which faith grasps and which becomes a practical reality as the conscience owns and accepts this judgment. The burning coal had to touch the lips of Isaiah, and even though the judicial fire from off the altar had exhausted every atom of its power upon the victim and, the anguish being over, nothing remained but the purifying power, still the prophet had to be brought into contact with it, thus typifying the experience of divine judgment our consciences pass through.
Gilgal
With respect to this circumcision that occurred at Gilgal, the Lord said unto Joshua, “This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you.” At the Red Sea they had been delivered from the slavery of Satan and of sin; here, for the first time, they were freed by judgment from the slavery of the flesh. But the Spirit of God adds, “Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.” Here we have a second great truth. As has been already observed, circumcision — judgment, the cutting off of the flesh — has been accomplished in Christ, but it also has to be considered under an essentially practical aspect, and not purely as doctrine.
Gilgal was the place of circumcision, and if this place was to be the point of departure for the army of Jehovah before a single victory had been achieved, it was also to be the assembling place after victory (Josh. 10:1515And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal. (Joshua 10:15)), and again the point of departure for fresh conquests. The judgment of the flesh was immovable. The people were to appropriate it to themselves continually; otherwise the flesh would work to regain what it had lost, and one victory would never be followed by a second. Let us remember that if circumcision signifies the cutting off of “the body of the flesh,” Gilgal is “the mortifying of our members which are upon the earth.” Colossians 3:5-85Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. (Colossians 3:5‑8) teaches us this in contrast with Colossians 2:1111In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: (Colossians 2:11).
Victory
This is a daily reality, and every victory opens out fresh horizons for us in the land of promise. Without conflict, there is no means of laying hold of any of our blessings, but without Gilgal there can be no victory. Which do we value most — Canaan with its warfare or our members upon the earth? Do we prefer the passing gratification of the lusts of the flesh to the painful task of returning to Gilgal? If so, we shall have to be taught by humiliation and chastisement how to recover the path, having lost the secret of strength in bitterness and tears and the ruin of defeat.
Food for the Flock, adapted