Sign of the Covenant

Sign of the Covenant

Genesis 17: ⁹ And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. ¹⁰ This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; ¹¹ and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. ¹² He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. ¹³ He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. ¹⁴ And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

 

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Abram’s name was changed to Abraham by GOD. The promise was restated that Abraham would have so many descendants that they could not be numbered. But then GOD gives a strange commandment. “Every male child among you must be circumcised.” GOD then went into detail of what circumcision was and who was supposed to have it done to.

 

My Observations:

• GOD said to Abraham why HE wanted circumcision, namely it would be a sign of the covenant.
• GOD began setting apart a group of people who intentionally followed HIM.
• GOD recognized earth’s commerce and said even those purchased would need to be circumcised.

 

You, your children, your family, your friends and your employees need to be circumcised, were the words of the covenant that would begin setting apart the descendants of Abraham. A physical, permanent, outpatient operation would serve as a mark to other humans that he belonged to GOD as part of the promise. GOD does not go into detail of the root of the sigh.

 

GOD does say, “MY covenant shall be in your flesh.” The same flesh that conceived sin, will now bring forth a promise. The curse from GOD that was placed on Adam, caused every human to be born with a sin nature. GOD had in HIS plan a way to save all humans. Through Abraham, a descendant would be born.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD was so clear in HIS covenant to Abraham?
• Do you have any reminders of GOD’s promise to you?
• Can you take time today to look back at the promises GOD made between you and HIM?