Necessary Inconveniences

by Zeke Flores

"At that time Yahweh said to Joshua, 'Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time.' And Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel ..." (Joshua 5:2-3).

Joshua 5 is a surprising chapter. Israel has momentum. They’ve crossed the Jordan, morale is high, and the Canaanite kings are terrified. Strategically, this is the perfect moment to attack. Instead, Yahweh commands Israel to stop and undergo circumcision—a painful, disabling ritual that leaves them vulnerable.

Contextually, this makes no military sense. But Yahweh isn’t building a nation on strategy alone; He’s building a covenant people. The generation entering the land had not been circumcised in the wilderness, meaning they were physically marked as Yahweh’s people only now. Before they fight for the land, they must reaffirm who they belong to.

This reminds us that identity comes before activity. Yahweh isn’t interested in people doing impressive things for Him while ignoring the foundational commitments that define their relationship with Him.

Practically, this challenges the tendency to prioritize productivity over spiritual alignment. Sometimes God slows us down to address something foundational such as character, obedience, or integrity. It may feel inconvenient, but it’s necessary.

Joshua 5 shows that Yahweh prepares His people by shaping them, not just by empowering them.