The Characteristics of the New Generation of Fighting Men: #4 – The Reproach of Egypt is Gone

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Posted by rfathers on January 11, 2010

After Israel had been in the desert for forty years Joshua succeeded Moses as the leader and the Lord miraculously moved the people across the Jordan River in preparation to enter the Promised Land.

Then God told Joshua to circumcise all the males.

Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. (Joshua 5:2 KJV)

All the men who were previously circumcised in Egypt had died off and no one was circumcised while they were in the dessert. As the men healed, the Lord spoke to Joshua:

… This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. (Joshua 5:9 KJV)

The circumcision ritual symbolized the renewing of the covenant that God originally made with Abraham that was to be carried down from generation to generation through the men.

The Dessert (Wilderness) Was a Transitional Period

Israel’s time in the dessert (wilderness) was a transitional period from their enslavement in Egypt – to a renewed covenant and a dependence on God. The circumcision ritual marked the end of that transition and a new beginning for Israel. That is why God wanted this done for a “second time.”

As discussed in earlier posts, before God could allow Israel to enter the Promised Land He had to eliminate the old generation of fighting men and replace them with the new generation of fighting men. Only Joshua and Caleb from the old generation were allowed to enter the Promised Land. Thus He used the experience in the dessert to cleanse them from the reproach of Egypt (Joshua 5:9).

My first question is what does reproach mean? Reproach means shame or disgrace (Strong’s Concordance #H2781). The reproach of Egypt was their lack of faith in God that He could bring them out of slavery and into the Promised Land of milk and honey. This was the slave mentality that the old generation was stuck in and caused the men to shrink in fear when God sent the twelve men to spy on the land of milk and honey. They preferred the life of slavery in Egypt to a covenant with God.

So God had to remove the shame and disgrace of slavery from Israel before He could bring them into the Promised Land.

This theme of cleansing away bondage (slave mentality) is repeated in the New Testament in Romans:

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ . . .(Romans 8:15-17 KJV)

Today God is calling for a new generation of fighting men that has left the reproach of Egypt and its slave mentality behind.

Do you still have the reproach of Egypt on you or can you stand tall and cry Abba, Father, knowing that God is your provider and protector?

Please give us your comments below.

Let us know how this post impacts you. In the next post we will cover Characteristic #5: We Are OverComers.

Please tell others about this important series on God Is Calling for a New Generation of Fighting Men.

Characteristics of the New Generation of Fighting Men: #3 – Be Radiant – Like Moses

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Posted by rfathers on January 8, 2010

In Exodus 34 the story is told of Moses returning from Mount Sinai after 40 days and nights fasting and in the presence of the Lord. His face glowed so brightly that he had to wear a veil over his face when he spoke to the people (Exodus 34:27-35).

The original Hebrew word that described how Moses’ face shone is qaran (Strong’s Concordance, #7160) which means, to shine, to send out rays, to emit beams, to glow.

Why Was Moses’ Face So Radiant?

Moses face was radiant because he spent time in the presence of the Lord. However, his radiance was probably not just on the outside – on his face. The radiance was an outward sign of what was happening on the inside of Moses. The radiance that showed on Moses’ face was also manifested in his soul and in his spirit – which would have come from the time Moses spent in the presence of the Lord.

Moses time with God put him in much closer contact with God and God’s purpose. It would have given Moses a boldness in his walk with God. He would have gained clearer purpose of mind, divine wisdom in decision-making and leadership, holiness in his lifestyle and much, much more.

You too can be radiant like Moses.

How Can We Be Radiant Like Moses?

The simple answer is to do what Moses did. But of course the context is different today. We are not on Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. However, being in the presence of the Lord in our own prayer closet and in our daily living can be just as powerful.

What Was Moses Doing While in the Presence of the Lord?

Scripture tells us in several placed what Moses did while in the presence of the Lord. Let us look at seven of them:

1. Fasting: (Exodus 34:28) – As mentioned above, Moses was fasting. He was denying his body for a higher purpose of his spirit. Like Moses, today fasting should be done for specific purposes such as: to humble oneself, to get closer to God (consecrate oneself), to understand God’s Word better, to better hear from God (understand His Will and to get direction), to seek healing, to gain divine intervention (break yokes and lift burdens), and to intercede for others. Moses’ fast was a serious fast. He wanted to be right there with God so he was willing to go without food and drink to open the door for that to happen.
2. Worship the Lord: (Exodus 24:1-5) – The Bible tells us that Moses led the people in worship. However, Moses fasting for 40 days and nights (Exodus 34:28) was also a form of worship. That is, when we submit our bodies to God for a higher purpose of the Spirit, that is a spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1-2 NIV). Certainly forty days with the Lord as Moses was – will bring us to a state of worship. For us today, we need to keep in mind that worship is not just about singing songs and saying nice words – it is about lifestyle. We will explain more about this much later when we define the Characteristics of the Fighting Army.
3. Pray Earnestly: (Deuteronomy 10:10) – Communication with God today is largely through prayer. That is how we speak to God. God reveals His will to us through our spirit. Any time someone is seeking the Lord and fasts like Moses did, there is most definitely sincere and purposeful prayer going on. If you have ever fasted seriously then you know it is a time for really seeking the Lord and His will for you (Psalm 63:1).
4. Intercession: (Deuteronomy 10:10, Exodus 32:31-32) – Moses spent much time in intercession for Israel. Because of Moses’ intercession for Israel, they were saved from the Lord’s destruction (Number 14:10-38). Today, the Lord commands us to pray for each other (Ephesians 3:18: James 5:16).
5. Seek Forgiveness: (Exodus 32:30) – Moses sought forgiveness on behalf of the people of Israel to help restore them into a right position with God. It is imperative that we repent from our own sins so that God can restore us to our right position with Him (Psalm 51).
6. Experience the Glory of the Lord: (Exodus 24:15-18; 33:18) – Moses went up to the mountain to be with God. He left others behind and assigned Aaron and Hur to handle matters in his absence. When in the presence of the Lord our focus must be on Him. Too often we let the troubles of the day overshadow our time with God. This is a time of building faith and getting to know God better and better by experiencing Him. It is also a time for communion with God, a sweetness that surpasses all understanding.
7. Receive Instructions from God: (Exodus 19:3-6) – Many times God gave Moses instructions on how to lead and what to say to Israel (including the Ten Commandments). Communion with God (prayer) is a two-way street. We talk to God. He talks to us through our spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14). God also instructs us through His Word (the Bible), thus we must study His Word. For anyone who wants to know the will and mind of God, His Word is the best place to start.

If you spend the kind of time with God that Moses did – then you too will shine from the Holy Spirit working inside of you. Are you ready to shine for God? You can be like what Jesus called a light of the world (Matthew 5:14)!

Pleae give us your comments on this post below. Let us know how it impacts you?

In the next post we will cover Characteristic #4: The Reproach of Egypt Is Gone.

Please tell others about this important series on God Is Calling For a New Generation of Fighting Men.

Characteristics of the New Generation of Fighting Men: #1 – What We Need To Leave Behind

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Posted by rfathers on December 18, 2009

Continuing in this series GOD IS CALLING FOR A NEW GENERATION OF FIGHTING MEN, This is the first of seven posts on the characteristics of a new generation of fighting men.

In Deuteronomy 2:16, right after the last man from the old generation of fighting men had perished – God told Moses to prepare to go into the Promised Land. This was based on God’s promise that none of the old generation of fighting men would see the land of milk and honey (Numbers 14:26-32).

In Deuteronomy 1:26-46 Moses recounted some of the history of Israel in the desert. In those verses he explained what the old generation of fighting men did wrong. Here is that list with other notes and the scripture verses for us to see what we need to leave behind in our walk with God as we become a NEW generation of fighting men. It is helpful to read the scripture to better understand the notes.

Seven Things We Need to Leave Behind –
(Deuteronomy 1:26-46)

1. v. 26 – Rebellion
2. v. 27 – Murmuring – tongue (Proverbs 18:21, James 3:3-12, Philippians 2:14)
3. v. 28 –29 – Discouragement/Fear (1 Timothy 1:7, Romans 8:15)
4. v. 32 – Unbelief – Lack of Faith
5. v. 35 – Evil Generation – as explained in …
   1. 5 Sins of the Wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:6-10)
      • v. 6 – lust
      • v. 7 – idolatry
      • v. 8 – fornication
      • v. 9 – tempt Christ
      • v. 10 – murmur
   2. They failed the test – serves as an example to us today (Hebrews 3:7-19) – Unbelief is a sin
   3. Could not Enter God’s Rest – Promised Land (1 Corinthians 10:5-6, 12; Hebrews 3:7-19; 4:1-11)
6. v. 43 – Disobedience/Going before God (Number14:40-45)
7. v. 37 – Moses Sin – Mementary Failure In Leadership (Numbers 20:1-12) v 12 – Moses and Aaron – leadership team from the beginning – burning bush
   1. Anger (Ephesians 4:26) – struck rock instead of speaking to it, blamed the people for him not being able to go into Promised Land (Deu 1:37)
   2. Contempt for the People – lost proper love for the people, spoke down to them (Num 20:10, Deu 1:37)
   3. disobedience – struck rock two times instead of speaking to the rock, public act of disobedience
   4. unbelief – did not trust/honor God “enough” (Num 20:12)
   5. pride – dishonored God: took credit for miracle of water (Num 20:10), public disobedience, mis-represented God to the people

Do you agree with this list? Are you in the new generation of fighting men? Give us your comment below.

In the next post we will look “Characteristics #2 – What We Need to Keep” – things that were pleasing to God in those same verses.

What are the Characteristics of This New Generation of Fighting Men?

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Posted by rfathers on December 15, 2009

Today’s new generation of fighting men will distinguish itself by its devotion and commitment to Our Lord Jesus Christ. In this, they will be unlike the old generation of fighting men who suffered from a slave mentality when they were in the desert with Moses.

Let us clearly define the old generation of fighting men that God would not let go into the Promised Land before we discuss the new generation of fighting men that we need today.

That old generation of fighting men had its origin in the post-Joseph era in Egypt when Pharaoh sought to enslave the Israelites (Exodus 2:6-22). The Bible does not record any specific activities of the men or any organized resistance to Egypt’s enslavement effort. It is significant that the resistance of the Israelite women (midwives who feared God) is well-documented as they refused the command of Pharaoh to kill all newborn baby boys (v. 15-22). Were the men as steadfast as the women?

Perhaps they had become complacent during the privileged and protected years under Joseph and afterwards. That complacency gave way to bitterness (Exodus 2: 14) which continued up into Israel’s time in the desert possibly leading to their own destruction (Number 1439 NIV).

Nonetheless, in the post-Joseph era the old generation of fighting men does not appear to have been doing much fighting – or at least not victoriously. By the time that Moses was prepared to lead them to take the Promised Land they had clearly lost the will to fight in spite of assurances that God would deliver the land into their hands. Instead, they wanted to return to Egypt where they had been slaves (Numbers 14:1-4).

This is why God did not let them go into the Promised Land. God said they had to die in the desert and that their children would take their place in the Promised Land (Numbers 14:29-32).

Today a new generation of fighting men is needed to address the current challenges that our families and nations face. Today men need to change – not be eliminated. This is a transformational process. Every man needs to eliminate from within himself any lingering characteristic or attributes that doomed the old generation of fighting men that was lost in the desert.

To this end we have constructed seven points that describes the characteristics of a new generation of fighting men to help ourselves prepare for the challenges at hand.

In the next post we will discuss the first of those seven points, the things we want to leave behind as explained by Moses in Deuteronomy 1:26-46.

Why is God Calling for a New Generation of Fighting Men for today?

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Posted by rfathers on December 12, 2009

Around 420 B.C. the Prophet Malachi warned in the last two verses of the Old Testament of a curse that would plaque the world should the heart of the fathers not turn to the children (Malachi 4:5-6).

Today we can see clear examples of what that curse could look like:

• Low standards of manhood, thus low standards for husbands and fathers
• Extreme father-absence
• High divorce rates
• Large percentage of children born outside of wedlock
• High rates of teen pregnancy
• High incidence of female headed households
• Ever increasing disrespect for elders and the rule of law
• Extreme sexual pervasiveness and promiscuity in society
• Weakening of the family and the authority of fathers in the family

These are just a few of the signs of such a curse – not only in the United States but also globally. One might argue which of these signs are effects of a curse and which are causes. The bottom line is that it is cyclical, that is, the more each problem persist – the more it helps to create and reinforce the other problems.

Nevertheless, Malachi’s warning (and the subsequent curse) shows the need for a new generation of fighting men equipped and prepared to face a different kind of enemy that impacts our manhood, our homes, our communities, our churches and more.

In the next post we will discuss the characteristics of the new generation of fighting men.

God’s Call for a New Generation of Fighting Men

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Posted by rfathers on December 8, 2009

God has impressed on me that He is calling for a new generation of fighting men to face the current challenges of the twentieth-first century.

This statement raises several obvious questions such as:

1. What is a generation of fighting men?
2. Why is God calling for a new generation of fighting men for today?
3. What are the characteristics of this new generation of fighting men?

What is a generation of fighting men?

Fourteen months after Israel’s Exodus from the confines of slavery in Egypt, a census showed that there were 603,550 men who were 20 years old or more and could serve in Israel’s army (Number 1:44-46). Twelve of these men were chosen (one of the leading men from each of the 12 tribes) to explore the land of milk and honey that God had promised to Israel. Upon their return after 40 days of spying the land, 10 of the men gave an evil report that characterized the inhabitants as unconquerable giants. Although the land was plentiful and inviting, the 10 spies spread fear that caused most of Israel to long for a return to Egypt.

Only Joshua and Caleb believed in God’s power to deliver the land into Israel’s hands. The whole assembly of Israel wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb. God intervened and threatened to immediately destroy all of the men of Israel. This was the generation of fighting men that God said could not enter the Promised Land and had to die in the dessert (Number 14:29-30). It was not until the last of these men was gone that God told Moses to prepare the people to enter the land of milk and honey.

Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley. By then, that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the LORD had sworn to them. The LORD’s hand was against them until he had completely eliminated them from the camp.

Now when the last of these fighting men among the people had died, the LORD said to me, “Today you are to pass by the region of Moab at Ar.
Deuteronomy 2:14-18 NIV

In the next post we will discuss why God is calling for a new generation of fighting men for today.

Please comment on today’s post below. Do you agree with this call?