My Shame Rolled Away

by Brian Farrell⁽²⁴⁵⁾ Red Star

http://www.ph16.com

So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed. Then the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal (literally “rolling”) to this day (Joshua 5:8-9).

One of the greatest types in the Bible is found in the correlation between the Exodus of Israel from the bondage and slavery of Egypt and the new birth, the freedom from bondage to sin and death found in Christ. Egypt is a type of sin, and Israel a type of the person who has been forgiven and born again through faith in Jesus. Joshua, and the people of Israel entering into the promise land represents the life of the believer in victory, and in entering into the rest of communion and relationship with God through the righteousness of Christ (Hebrews 4).

In our passage, Joshua is told to circumcise and does circumcise the Israelites before they are to enter and take the promise land. After the children of Israel were healed, the Lord said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you."

Paul said, “but [he is] a Jew who [is one] inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise [is] not from men but from God (Rom. 2:29).”

As He did with the reproach of Egypt on Israel, the Lord has rolled away the reproach, the shame and disgrace, of our former lives as slaves to sin, sinning against the Lord in ignorance. We have the circumcision of the heart, the strength of the old life in addictons, greed, lust and pride, has been surgically removed and cut away. We now live in the spirit and not in the flesh.

Paul says again, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you (Rom 8:9)” and “Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Cor. 5:17).”

What a joy to be alive to God in Christ! To know that the Lord no longer remembers our sin. He has removed the disgrace of our old lives, “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:11).” So we are dead to sin. It has been rolled away, removed. We walk in newness of life in Christ. But, now notice the use of the phrase “rolled away” concerning the stone at Jesus’s tomb. “

But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb (Luke 24:2).”

Jesus, speaking through David said, “I [am] a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people (Ps. 22:6).”

Speaking of Jesus, Isaiah says, “But He [was] wounded for our transgressions, [He was] bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace [was] upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).”

Jesus was a reproach of men and despised by the people, wounded for our transgressions, and by His wounds we are healed. Buried in the grave, having taken upon Himself my sin, your sin, and the sin of the whole world, He was sealed in by the large stone set before His resting place. Sealed in by death, covered in our shame and reproach.

But it could not be His final resting place. Death could not hold Him who is without sin, the First and the Last, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The reproach laid on Him was rolled away, along with the stone, as in our text, “This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.”

Isaiah continues speaking of the Messiah, “I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12).”

And David continues, “They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done [this] (Ps 22:31).”

In Revelation Jesus said, “I [am] He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death (Revelation 1:18).”

Jesus took our sin and reproach, and that reproach was rolled away from Him. Our reproach is also rolled away because of what the Lord has done for us.

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself (Philippians 3:20-21).”

Article submitted Monday, April 13, 2009 & read 487 times.

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» left by Bart⁽²³⁾ (2 years 300 days ago.)

Hello Brian,

This is very insightful. Such an encouragement and comfort to know that our reproach has been rolled away because of Jesus. Thank you for sharing.

Bart
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» left by Rebecca Park Totilo (2 years 297 days ago.)

Great article. I appreciate your insight and study into the word.
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» left by Brian Farrell⁽²⁴⁵⁾ (2 years 295 days ago.)

Thanks, Rebecca. It's great to get your feedback!

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» left by Swapna Nanda (2 years 292 days ago.)

Thank you Brian for reminding us that in Jesus we are saints. It was an encouragement for me and I pray that this will comfort and reassure many to taste and see that the Lord is good.

regards,

Swapna
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» left by Brian Farrell⁽²⁴⁵⁾ (2 years 291 days ago.)

Thanks Swapna. What a future God has in store for us! I really appreciate your comments and encouragement. May the Lord richly bless you in all that you do for Him. He is using you in powerful ways and you and your husband are in my prayers. His word does not come back void!

Brian

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