Page 68 - Evidence of Things Unseen

through to be prepared.
Later that day when my brother-in-law arrived home I asked him how large the field
was across the street. He said he was unsure, but it was either 60 or 66 acres. This was a
further confirmation of what the Spirit had spoken to me, for the number six represents the
flesh man throughout Scripture. Here was a field before me representing fleshly people, and
God had told me He would one day call me to a ministry of cutting the flesh away from
mankind.
There is much Scriptural precedence for such a calling. Perhaps the clearest type of
such a ministry is the practice of circumcision, which is a cutting away of the flesh of the
foreskin. The circumcision of a male is attended by much pain and discomfort that lasts for
days. Similarly, when man’s carnal nature is dealt with by God, there is pain that
accompanies its removal. There is a passage of Scripture from the Old Testament that is full
of insight relating to this matter.

Joshua 5:3-5
So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at
Gibeath-haaraloth. This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people
who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness
along the way after they came out of Egypt. For all the people who came out were
circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as
they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised.

As mentioned in an earlier chapter, Joshua is a type of Yahshua. Joshua was not born
in the wilderness, but was one of the two men who were still living at this time who had
been brought out of Egypt. This too points to Christ, for of Him we read:

Matthew 2:13-15
An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise and take the
Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod
is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." And he arose and took the Child and
His mother by night, and departed for Egypt; and was there until the death of Herod,
that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying,
"Out of Egypt did I call My Son."

Joshua was called out of Egypt, and he was circumcised in Egypt. Egypt stands as a
type of the world. Christ also was called out of Egypt, and in the greater type for which
Egypt stands, the Son of God learned obedience and His flesh was broken and nailed to a
cross. This brings to mind the words of the apostle Paul:

Galatians 5:24
Now those who belong to Christ Yahshua have crucified the flesh with its passions
and desires.

Immediately after Joshua had led the Israelites through the Jordan River and into the land
of promise, God commanded him to stop and circumcise all the males. This is a picture of
the work of Christ in removing the flesh from all those who would enter into the inheritance
set before them. As an awesome confirmation of this work that was to begin in my own life,