The Circumcision.

Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised. For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord; the Lord swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way. When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed. And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day. (Joshua 5: 5 to 9)

It was described after the people of Israel had crossed the river Jordan as below.

As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel. (Joshua 5: 1)

So, when Joshua cut off the river Jordan for the Israelites to cross over the river, they were triumphing. When Moses led the Israelites to cross over the parted Red Sea, they were running for their lives to escape from the Egyptians. Yet, God still commanded Joshua to circumcise the Israelites. If escaping from Egypt was a reproach, then why could circumcision roll away the reproach? Also, wasn't it God's will to lead Jacob, Israel, and his family from Canaan to Egypt in the first place as described below?

And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes.” Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. (Genesis 46: 2 to 5)

So, moving to Egypt was not a reproach. Yet, to be treated shrewdly as slavery was. It's described in the Bible as below.

Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. (Exodus 1: 8 to 11)

So, they lost their identity as God's great nation. Not only that, the slavery made them into worldly life. So, they complained, disobeyed, and rebelled whenever they encountered any hush or discomfort situations during the journey in the Sinai wilderness as described below.

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” (First Corinthians 10: 1 to 7)

So, the circumcision would prevent the new generation from indulging themselves as their fathers. In other words, to roll away the reproach of Egypt. Yet, it's more important to circumcise the heart as described below.

So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (Romans 2: 26 to 29)

So, the outward circumcision just gave you praise from man. Only the inner circumcision could give you the praise from God. Immanuel.