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9 The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt." And so that place is called Gilgal to this day. 10 While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. 11 On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year. (Joshua 5:9-12 NRSV)
Dear Friend, blessings upon blessings on this Wednesday. May it be wonderful and worshipful for you and those around you. May you bring God's love to life in your thoughts, words, and deeds to all.
The Bible is as much as book of geography as it is a book of meals. If you're at all familiar with the stories you know that a lot of meaningful events take place around the table; previous historical events are memorialized around the table, and the first great celebration in Heaven will be as we gather around Jesus for that Great Banquet. Meals are meaningful; some would say and do observe meals as sacred. How is it at your home? All meals should have meaning; our gratitude towards God should first, our gratitude towards those joining us at the table; and an awareness and a commitment to do for those who do not have should be part of our outreach and mission as believers.
The meal here in this passage is an important one. It was forty years in the making! I think of the first meal that Nellie and I shared on our honeymoon and that was 25 years in the making. And it was and still is, very special. The Israelites that made it to the Jordan and crossed over it received the blessing of finally being washed clean of anything and everything Egyptian and all of the negative memories of that slavery experience were "rolled" away as they set foot on the promised soil thus the name Gilgal. That night they celebrated the passover with its very significant meaning, then they moved to eating the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain; meaning all this is ours now. And at that moment there was no more manna; theirs was the natural production of the land.
Lent is a season of transition—a journey from bondage to freedom, from wilderness to promise. In this passage, the Israelites have finally crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering. God declares to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” This marks a fresh start. The shame of slavery is behind them, and a new chapter has begun.
For years, the Israelites relied on manna from heaven to survive, but now, as they enter the land of promise, they eat the produce of Canaan. The manna ceases, signaling a shift from survival to abundance. God provides in new ways for new seasons.
During Lent, we reflect on the places where we may still be carrying the weight of past shame or struggles. Like the Israelites, we are invited to let go of the past and step fully into God’s promises. Sometimes God provides manna in the wilderness, and other times He calls us to trust Him in new ways.
As we journey toward the hope of Easter, may we trust God in every season—whether in the wilderness or the promised land. Let go of the burdens that no longer serve you and embrace the new beginning God is offering.
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for rolling away the shame and burdens of our past. As we walk through this Lenten season, help us to trust You in every season of life. Open our eyes to the new ways You are providing for us, and give us the courage to step fully into the promises You have prepared. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Reflect today on what burdens or past struggles you need to release. Write them down and offer them to God in prayer. Then, consider how God may be calling you to embrace something new—a new habit, relationship, or mindset—that reflects His faithfulness. Let this be a season of renewal.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
