The Gilgal Experience

by Lou Pressman

JOSHUA 4:2, 3

here are two primary things that the Lord does right after the Israelites cross over the Jordan River into the Land of Prom-ise that have much meaning for us today. First, The Lord commanded that twelve men from the twelve tribes each pick up one stone from the middle of the Jordan from exactly where the priests stood which was to become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever. When we think of a memorial, we think of it being a remembrance, which it is; but that word also means it will become a declaration. It's not something to just remember, but it will be a declaration of what God has done. It's something they could see and point to and remember what God has done for them.

Secondly, which is equally important: He instructs them to lay the stones down in a place where you will lodge tonight. This is a place called Gilgal. What was about to happen in Gilgal not only affected Israel, but it needs to affect everyone in the church of the Living God. This means that all who were never circumcised must now submit to this spiritual heart experience.

JOSHUA 5

Verse 2: At that time the Lord said to Joshua, "Make for yourselves flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time." The Israelites came out of Egypt circumcised, but disobedient. The purpose of circumcision is found in Genesis 17:10-11. It's one of the many signs that distinguish the people of God from everyone else. It is actually an outward sign—in the flesh—of an inward work—in the heart. All of the people of twenty years of age and upward perished. Thus, only the younger generation, along with Joshua and Caleb, had the sign of circumcision in their flesh. Those that were born in the wilderness did not, and therefore needed to be circumcised.

When one thinks of the Exodus, it's not just the coming "out," it's the coming "in" as well. There are many of God's New Testament people who have died in the wilderness because of disobedience. Disobedience takes a myriad of forms. This walk, as you know, is not an easy walk.

Verse 8: "Now it came about when they had finished circumcising all the nation, that they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed." The word "healed" here means not only a physical healing but also the ability to possess the fullness of life. So there is something about this circumcision that allows one to possess the fullness of life.

Verse 9: "Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you. So the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day."' God rolled away the reproach of Egypt. It's the first thing that happens after they crossed into the Promised Land. Although they are children of God and part of the covenant and have already crossed into the Promised Land, they still needed Gilgal. There are many of God's people today who are lacking the Gilgal experience in their life. They have come out of bondage, and they know so many things. They are in the Promised Land but they've never had that Gilgal experience. Is the reproach of Egypt still upon them?

When scripture talks about the reproach of Egypt, I think of the rejection and disapproval of others. There are those who have to deal with a spirit of rejection, and there are those who need approval. It could be things that we've done or things that have been done to us. It leads to a sensing or believing that you are out of favor with God. You know that God loves you and understand His grace but, you're just not feeling the favor of God as you imagine or believe it should be. You're wandering in the wilderness of life never feeling that God will allow you to fully enter in. I think there's more of that than we imagine. The good news is that there is a Gilgal where God can say, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt." Gilgal is where it happens. Far greater than the cutting of the flesh, this circumcision applies to both male and female, addressing every heart condition that damages their relationship with God.

Deuteronomy 30: 5,6: And the Lord your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live." The promise: "...that you may live" is the same root as the word "healed" in Joshua 5:8. This is the ability to possess the fullness of life the way that the Lord has intended. Are we lacking the ability to possess the fullness of life? Do we feel that we are nowhere near possessing the fullness of life that God has intended for us? If that is the case, then we need a Gilgal experience.

Romans 2:28: "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh." God is saying here that it's not the outward; it's not the symbolism; it's not the lineage; it's not the rituals.
Verse 29: "But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the spirit, not by the letter; and its praise is not from men but from God." The true circumcision is not of the letter, but a divine work of the Holy Spirit, as we allow God to deal with our hearts. Its praise is not from men but from God. This circumcision, or cutting away, will enable us to possess the character and nature of Christ, and becomes a true sign of the covenant. It's not outward; although we will see the manifestation of it, but it's something of the Spirit that affects the inward. It is us allowing the Holy Spirit to remove the fleshly, soulish, selfish things from our hearts. It's going to hurt, but we will live. We will gain the ability to possess the fullness of life.

Jeremiah 4: 3-4: "For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, "Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord and remove the foreskins of your heart." Fallow ground is hardened ground. It can't receive the good seed. No yield can come out of fallow ground. It's as if the Lord is saying: "Why exert all your labors for such a meager existence? Why?"
The significance of all of this is that we can find ourselves in a similar situation as the sons of Israel. We may have crossed over and survived. We may be saved, be born again, and have crossed over into the Promised Land; but we are still lacking the Gilgal experience. We find ourselves unable to go on from there. It's God's desire that we possess the fullness of life that He has intended for us. From there certain things can happen.

Referring to Joshua 5:10 again: They allowed God to come and cut away things in their hearts. As we allow God to cut away things from out hearts, there is an enjoyment-a joy that comes into us knowing that we have been freed from Egypt. They understood that this was truly a new beginning because of what God had done and because of the blood of the Passover Lamb. It was a Passover like no other. It's amazing that we will find people who try to rid themselves of the religious things in the church, but it isn't the outward. It's never the outward. It's the inward. One can be in an independent, non-denominational, so-called spirit filled church and still be lacking the Gilgal experience-never truly enjoying the freedom; always under the reproach of Egypt; and never coming into the liberty that God has for us. If we're blessed enough that we come into that freedom, we will recognize that it is truly because of what the Lord has done.

Lastly, Joshua 5:11,12: "On the day after the Passover they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna but they ate some of the yield of the land Canaan during that year." They were now eating from the goodness of the Promised Land and it tasted mighty good.

I am always so thankful to the Lord how He reveals these truths to us. Brothers and sisters, are there enemies in the land? Yes. Are there giants in the land? Absolutely; but we have nothing to fear. You have nothing to fear as long as you walk in obedience to the Lord, and as we allow God to take that flint to our hearts and allow Him to cut away things of which we are not even aware. We're saying to God, "Here I am, deal with me. Deal with matters of my heart." It's in this that God will open up to us the blessings, and we will not feel the reproach. We will be delivered of the reproach of Egypt, and we will be able to obtain all that God has for us.

It is time to surrender to the Gilgal experience. If we don't, we will wonder aimlessly in the wilderness, always feeling there is something lacking in our lives. We may come to the very threshold of the Promise Land but never fully enter in to what God has for us.
We need the Gilgal experience. Yes it's important to remember what God has done. This is the memorial: this is the place where you delivered me. These are the stones. This is what we can tell our children's children. God, You did something mighty. You stopped the natural order of events to bring a people into the Promised Land, but that is only the beginning. We need to remember to declare that; but without the Gilgal experience, it will just be empty words. We cannot just parrot what others have said. God's way always brings reality. God has deliverance and freedom for us and a new order of life. That's why they were able to celebrate. It's the feast of the Passover. It's a joyful event. Is there joy missing in our lives? Do we feel the reproach of Egypt upon us?

Prayer:

May we pray, "Lord I need a Gilgal experience in my life. I desire to possess the fullness of life that You intended for me. I do not want to sell myself short of what You desire for me. Please don't allow the enemy to rob me. Please Lord, don't allow me to settle for anything less, or come short of Your high calling for my life."