‘Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites….The manna stopped the day afterward they ate this food from the land’ (Josh 5:1-12)
Gilgal is a plain close to Jericho. The children of God have just ‘crossed over’ into the Promised Land.
Spiritually, Gilgal represents the transition between youth and maturity, between walking by sight and walking by faith, between dependence on personal strength to being dependent on God, for provision, power and the fulfillment of promises.
The word ‘Gilgal’ means ‘rolling away’ the shame and disgrace of past sin. That reality, that experience is located at the Cross of Christ. What should we expect to see at our Gilgal?
*This is a place of victory. Our enemies will hear of the miracles God has done in our lives and begin to fear, begin to be discouraged about their standing, strategy and religion. The kings of Canaan began to faint at the sound of the victory on behalf of God’s children. These kings represent the demons and the kingdom of darkness.
There shall be ‘unexplained, mysterious’ weakness and confusion in the camp of your enemies.
*This is a place of rest and preparation for further victories in the land. This rest is God’s rest. We like to always ‘do things’ for God, but the primary reason why He called us to Himself is to just BE, to become His worshippers. From now on, every victory in the land shall be your personal gain connected to God’s glory. From now on, your finances will miraculously increase. This is an overflow so that you do not live just for ‘paying bills’ but to exhibit faith in God, the Provider. People will be attracted to this new overflow of wealth. They know your struggling past and suddenly things change. They shall come to ask why? Your wealth shall be a new platform for ministry as you give all glory to God!
*This is a place of transition where we remember with gladness the promises of the past. God said to Abraham that He will be the owner of all that land and that his children will be many, like the stars. After more than four hundred years in Egypt, where the dream of land ownership became unreal, the people of God now ‘sleep’ on that Promised Land under the stars ‘of Abraham’. From now on, you shall experience the fulfillment of old dreams and prayers. Long ago these blessings were life to you and made your soul glad. But after so many years, a part of your soul died with their death. You shall discover that God never forgets prayers in the name of His Son; that your ugly past of sin, surprisingly contained seeds of blessings, now ready to resurrect in Gilgal. You shall find joy in resurrecting old hobbies, gifts, businesses and ministries. This is our God!
*This is a place of separation from the past of sin. All the males had to circumcise. This was the reminder that they belong to God. Abraham was told by El Shaddai that all God’s men must be circumcised in the flesh. In Egypt and in the desert, they ignored the covenant because they were under God’s judgment. Now, they all obeyed the command and they circumcised as the people of God. The flesh dies so that the spirit can live.
From now on, a new sense of belonging to God, to His family on earth and heaven will grip your soul. You shall discover the pain and the gain of the Cross.
*This is a place for a change of ‘diet’. Manna stopped and now, for the first time in their lives, they eat the fruit of the land. Manna was God’s supernatural provision for forty years in the desert. Now they have to work the land for their daily bread. This is not an easy transition, but very necessary for spiritual maturity. To eat manna may be boring but it does not take much personal labor. From now on they have to attack the Canaanites, to disposes them of their land and to start farming it. They have to trust God for rain and seeds.
Spiritually speaking, from now on, the ‘readymade diet’ of listening to sermons in the church will not be enough. You will continue to listen to sermons, but you also have to read and study the Word of God for yourself. You have to apply the Word in daily living. You have to pray always. Then the fruit of the Holy Spirit shall spring up in you. People shall come from far and near to eat your words salted with grace. Spiritual effort will pay off and your harvest shall increase!
May you recognize the change of seasons as you proceed to conquer the Blessed Promised Land!
May you be willing to pay the price to master the flesh so that the Spirit can use you to minister life to many!
May you gladly move on unto spiritual maturity!
May you desire spiritual fullness and all the best God has for you!
May you be filled with the Holy Spirit!
In Jesus name, amen!
(In the picture, twelve stones at Gilgal, as it is today)