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Circumcision was no easy procedure. And for an adult male it would leave you incapacitated for a number of days. We know this intuitively but also we see an example of this in Genesis 34. Jacob and his young family had moved to Shechem and after Shechem's son Hamor took Jacob's daughter Dinah the boys hatched a plan to get back at them which involved circumcising all the men of Shechem. After the procedure the men were still sore three days later. That's when the boys attacked and killed them.
So now many years later, back in the land, God calls all the men of Israel to be circumcised. Now I'm sure Joshua might have thought "this is a great way to prepare the men for battle. We'll be sitting ducks for the enemy for days with no where to escape to!" It was true. God was purposefully weakening His people physically. There were several reasons. We talked about the cutting away of the flesh spiritually so that we don't rely on our strengths but God's to win victory. But it is also true that God purposefully makes us weak so that we can be strong in Him, and that's what I want to talk about in this study. When does God make us weak, how does He do it, and for what purpose? Let's look at some examples: God causes us to be weak when we have sinned David after Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12) he lay prostrate before God as his child died Samson (Judges 16:17) he was taken by his enemies because he took his oath for granted God causes us to be weak when He is revealed to us Paul after his trip to heaven (2 Corinthians 12) John when he sees God on Patmos during his revelation of the future (Rev 1:17) Daniel during his revelation of the future (Daniel 8, 10) Isaiah in God's throne room when God revealed man's true nature (Isaiah 6) God causes us to be weak when we step out for Him Here in Joshua (ch 5) Peter walking on the water (Matthew 14) God causes weakness in us as we yield ourselves to God Jacob when he wrestled with God in Genesis 32 Why? To stop us from boasting in ourselves Samson - was finally humbled and realized it wasn't about him any more but about God's work, so when his strength returned he gave his life to destroy God's enemies (Judges 16) 1 Corinthians 1:27-31 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." 2 Corinthians 11:30-31 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. To make us strong in Him 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 13:4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. To preach the unvarnished truth of the gospel 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. To increase our faith in and reliance on God Hebrews 11:32-35 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets- 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. What does God do? Prays for us. Romans 8:26 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Sympathizes with us Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Strengthens us A touch revived Daniel and John Ephesians 6: 10 "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." Strong: 1743: To enable (to clothe with power) Power (or strength): 2904: to be great, have dominion Might: 2479: forcefulness (ability) Dies for us Romans 5:6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. How does God weaken us? Takes away your health, your financial support, your job, a family member is taken, you fail on an important task, you fall into sin, puts you into a new circumstance where you are out of your comfort zone, or something else happens that is beyond your control. But take heart. That which breaks you will build your faith. Job 13:15 Though he slay me, I will hope in him; God sifts us to help us James 1:3-4 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Also don't panic: 1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. So if you feel weakened and like you are the last person that can stand up and fight for the Lord to win victory over the flesh, the world, and the enemy-don't panic but entrust yourself totally into God's hands and let His strength flow through you. Again I come back to what we shared on Sunday: Declare the flesh dead (circumcision) Declare our weakness under the blood and the new life of Christ (Passover) Declare our allegiance to God for His glory (the angel) Use the weapons God has given us: prayer, His Word, and worship. |
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