"Short Term Pain, Long Term Gain"

Scripture: "At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again." So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the desert on the way after leaving Egypt. All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the desert during the journey from Egypt had not. The Israelites had moved about in the desert forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the LORD. For the LORD had sworn to them that they would not see the land that he had solemnly promised their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed. Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." So the place has been called Gilgal to this day." -Joshua 5:2-9, NIV

As we live this life, we often find that at certain ages of our lives, we tend to add a little weight to our frame. I can attest to this fact because I have put on about 10 pounds within this calendar year. One thing that I strive to do on a weekly basis is to workout. I usually go to our Fitness Center and do weightlifting and/or riding the elliptical trainer in excess up to 50 minutes at a time. Upon completing my workout, there's always a good burn that I feel and the times I haven't worked out in a while, not only there is a good burn, but there's also a good little pain as well. As the old song use to say, "No pain, no pain, no gain!" In this journey we call life and within your walk with God, there are times where we are going to experience short term pain in order to achieve long term gain. Today's text will further illustrate this phenomena of short term pain, long term gain.

Our focal book today is found in the book of Joshua. Joshua is the sixth book of the Old Testament and the first book of the Old Testament's History books. Within this book, we find that leadership has changed with the Israelites from Moses (due to his death in Deuteronomy) to Joshua. God has let Joshua know in so many terms that He had his back and to follow His Word in all decisions and things that Joshua does. Within today's text, we find that the kings around Canaan are afraid of the Israelites due to God's magnificent work of drying up the Jordan that the Israelites may walk. Do you realize when God does something miraculous or special in your life, the enemy is afraid?

As the text continues, God asked Joshua to do something of major importance: to circumcise the Israelites. Within Jewish customs today, circumcision is critical and within the Old Testament days, it was quite important as well. Circumcision, an act of cutting off the foreskin of the baby's penis, occurred eight days after a baby boy's birth. Circumcision tied into the blessing of Abraham through a covenant discussed in Genesis 17. If truth were told and we want to receive the same blessing of Abraham, we need to be circumcised as well. Circumcised how? Circumcised from tattling! Circumcised from gossiping! Circumcised from adultery! Circumcised from fornication! Circumcised from getting angry over little stuff! Circumcised from demeaning your spouses! Circumcised from past issues! Circumcised from financial issues! After receiving those orders from God, Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth (whose name means "hill of foreskins"). Can you imagine the pain these Israelite men felt due to their circumcision? At that moment, these men had the "short term pain". Why did God have Joshua to circumcise these men?

These men were circumcised because their forefathers, who were of military age and was there with Moses, died due to their disobedience of God. Because of their disobedience, God told them that they would never make it to the Promised Land. Aren't you glad that God has given you new mercies every day to make it to your respective Promised Land? As the text continues, these new uncircumcised men had to be circumcised. After these men were circumcised, they stayed in their camp until they healed. Ladies and gentlemen, as God circumcises you from your respective issues, you will need time to heal. You just cannot jump right out there without getting the proper rest and healing necessary. The part of this text that affirms the "long term gain" is found where God tells Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you". In other words, due to Joshua's obedience, God forgave the people and took the mess off of them that they may go and possess the land. Brothers and sisters, when you are circumcised, God is taking away the mess off of you. He's taking away the unnecessary stuff so that you and your family may possess the land He has for you. The land of entrepreneurship, He wants you to go there! The land of healing from the past, He wants you to go there! The land of health, He wants you to go there! The land of wealth, He wants you to go there! He wants the best for you and through circumcision, though it may be a short term pain, it will definitely be a long term gain!

In closing, as I strive to lose my weight that I have gained through the short term of working out and other things, there will be a long term gain from it. Allow God to circumcise you from the things that mean you no good that you may obtain His long term gain for your life. Are you prepared to be circumcised?