Today's Passage - Joshua 5:8-9

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Joshua 5:8 - 9   "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.   God said "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Isn't the salvation completed when the Israelites left Egypt? The miracle of Passover is where God used blood as a sign to rescue the Israelites from the destroyer. And Israelites were delivered from their four hundred years of slavery on the day after the Passover. The sight of leaving Egypt was magnificent and joyful. And as they left Egypt, they took Egyptians' wealth and livestock. Why then, God said He rolled away the reproach of Egypt today? This is because even though they have left Egypt, but Egypt is still in their hearts.   This is because when they were in wilderness, they always complained about how good Egypt was and how unwilling they are to leave Egypt. Even though they have departed Egypt, but Egypt had remained in their heart. Therefore when they were arrived at the gateway of the Promised Land, they were unwilling to enter the Promised Land because they heard that the indigenous people are like giants. The real problem is because of the Egypt that is like a stronghold in their hearts, which prevented them from entering the abundance of God. Only when Israelites had their circumcision, where they not only had it on their flesh but also surrender to God through the act of circumcision, the Egypt that was on their hearts were finally removed.   In our Christian journey, there are times where we were lead out of Egypt. God set us free from sins and bondages, but unfortunately, Egypt stayed in our hearts. The influence of the world is so strong in their hearts to a point where their lives are filled with all sorts of bitterness. Many believers don't understand that the bitterness in their hearts are due to Egypt not being removed from their hearts and have become a stronghold.   How about you? Are you willing to have the reproach of Egypt rolled away from you? May the Holy Spirit help us to surrender to God. Only when we are obedient to the leading of His word in our daily lives, then the Egypt could be removed from our hearts. As we obey, God will say "I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you."   Pray with Pastor Tong     Dear Lord, may you do the work of rolling away the Egypt from our hearts today. May the Gilgal comes into our hearts. May the Lord remove from our hearts all the bondages and strongholds from the world, so that we may be obedient. I thank you and I pray all these in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!