Joshua 5:1-9 – Family Ties
(Nowheres near an original thought, but good nonetheless...)
Today I’d like to do something different. Today’s a bit different from most, so I’m putting a twist on my scripture today, out of the ordinary for me anyway. Let’s read Joshua 5:1-9.
So the Israelites have crossed the Jordan. They are about to get marching orders as to how to conquer the Promised Land. But there is something that needs to be taken care of first. That’s the issue of circumcision.
You see, circumcision for a Jew carries much more importance than it does for the rest of us. Many little boys are circumcised today because of the health factor. Simply put, circumcision cuts down on the spread of germs and diseases. It’s a cleanliness thing.
But for a Jew, the issue is much more pronounced. For a Jew, circumcision is about the agreement between God and His people. We call it a covenant, a contract or a promise between the Creator and the created. It’s a centuries-old agreement that started way back with Abraham. It was a sign that God chose one particular family to pour out His blessings on, and pour out His blessings through. It was a symbol that His people would remain faithful, and so would God.
In time, circumcision began to symbolize the Law. It came to mean that if you were obedient in this issue, then you were fine with all the other ones. In NT times, some people wanted Gentiles to submit to circumcision in order to be saved. It was like, “Jesus plus the Law.” That was stopped because that would mean you needed more than Jesus to save you. And if you need more than Jesus, why did He die, then?
Well, it’s not that way anymore. Like most issues, it died. Like eating meat sacrificed to idols, which was another hot topic or red flag, it ended. Makes you think that the issues we fight over may not matter as time passes.
But for the Jew, this remains central to their beliefs. Circumcision means being set apart from others. It means being clean before the Lord. And it means being part of a family. Which is where I want to camp out on today. Being together.
At the town of Gilgal, Joshua reinstated the covenant of circumcision. Apparently, in their 40 years of wandering, the practice was put on hold. But now that they are about to fight for a common prize, now that they are about to get the best God has for them, they need to remember whose they are, and who they are. Circumcision means reminding each other they are family.
And here we are today. Today we celebrated the faithfulness of the Sunday school workers. In a few minutes, we are about to welcome Kelli and Wayne as members of Doaktown Wesleyan Church. Truly we are family. As members of the body of Christ, we too are circumcised. Philippians 3:3 says, “For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.” And Colossians 2:11 say, “In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ.”
You see? As Christians, we have been cleansed. We have been set apart. In fact, the word “church” means “the called-out ones”. Called out from the world, from selfishness and ulterior motives, and called to be His body. And we are family. Circumcised means united as family.
Now, I’d like to take the next few minutes to think of what that means. Today I’d like to look at geese. Maybe you’ve heard this before. Well, it’s worth repeating. And it’s not original to me. John Maxwell, former Wesleyan pastor, included this in one of his books. And I’ve heard it other places as well. But today, I’d like to share with you what we, as a church, as a family, can learn from geese.
1) Geese illustrate the concept of fellowship. Well, what is fellowship? You’ve heard the word from the pulpit before. Most times what we call “fellowship” is “hello-ship”. Saying hi. Which is important, but true fellowship is more than that. Fellowship means “to have in common”, “to share”, “to participate for a common cause”. Acts 2:42 says, “And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
As Christians, what are we doing together other than meeting on Sunday? Why do the geese get together before they head south for the winter? Granted, God made them that way, and they don’t think about it. But, the geese get together because together, the journey is easier.
Science has discovered why geese heading south for the winter fly in a "V" formation. Research has shown that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately behind it. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
People who share a common direction and sense of community get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on one another’s thrust. Part of being in fellowship with one another is making sure that we are going in the same direction and that we are flying in formation. Have you seen a group of geese heading out in all directions as they try to head south?
Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone. It quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. When we fall out of formation with God, we also feel the resistance pull us down away from our goal of growing closer to Jesus. If we will embark on our journey to heaven together, the journey becomes easier.
The geese, because of their instinct given to them by God, get together and head south for the winter for their survival. As Christians, we need to get together and walk together, we need to spend time together and grow together. 1John 1:7 says, “If we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” The geese stay together and head south for their survival, we too must work together as one body for our survival. As a church, each of us need to think of ways that we can grow together in Christ.
2) Geese illustrate the concept of sharing the workload. There’s a general rule regarding giving and getting work done in the church. 80% of the work and giving gets done by 20% of the people. Well, what happens when 80% of the work gets done by 20% of the people? The people who are doing the work become discouraged and sometimes get burned out.
Now, when the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the "V" and another goose flies the point. It pays to take turns doing hard jobs. What would happen to the geese if only 20% of them would take the lead? The geese would not achieve their goal of survival. Sharing the workload ensures that the work will get done. The work of the church is important; we are trying to build the kingdom of God. There are many of you with various talents that could enhance the ministry of this church, are you using them? 1 Corinthians 12 reminds us that we are one body with many parts, if all of the parts are not working in the body, the body does not function properly. What if 80% of you car engine decided to quit working? By instinct, geese share the work load among all the geese, as a church, we should do the same thing.
3) Geese illustrate the concept of encouragement. Ever noticed a flock of geese flying? They make all kinds of noise by honking at each other as they fly. Why do they do it? The researchers tell us that geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Well, what does that mean for us? What do we say when we honk from behind? 1Thess. 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” Heb.3:13 says, “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
More often than not, the noise that we hear behind people who are working is not the voice of encouragement, but instead, the voice of criticism. These geese are trying to encourage one another as they are on their long journey south, as Christians, we should do the same thing. We are on a long journey to Jesus and we need encouragers.
And finally, 4) Geese illustrate the concept of sharing burdens with one another. This is really needed in the church, the concept of sharing one another’s burdens. When a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gun-fire and falls out, two other geese fall out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with the goose until it is either able to fly again or dead, and then they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their group. Gal.6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” Rom.15:1 says, “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.”
People need to know that when they need someone, they have a brother or sister in Christ that they can reach out to. Can you think of practical ways to bear another’s burdens? Free babysitting? Lawn mowed? Helping to get groceries? Drives to town? We all need encouragement. Too many times we shoot the brother who stumbles, but what he really needs is for us to stay with him until he heals or dies.
Folks, there are a lot of things that we can learn from God’s creation. The concepts that we can learn from watching geese are concepts that can help make the church stronger. As a church, we can fly together in the formation, that we can share the workload of the church, and that when we are honking at each other from behind, it is to encourage and that we will share one another’s burdens. If the community knows that is the way this church operates, people will – ahem – flock to us.
Are you doing your part? What are you doing on a personal level to help grow the kingdom of God? What are you doing on a personal level to enhance the ministry of Doaktown Wesleyan Church? We are, after all, more than a flock of birds – we are family together.
