Abraham And The Covenant Of Circumcision. This is [the sign of] My covenant, which you shall keep and faithfully obey, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be the sign (symbol, memorial) of the covenant between Me and you. Gen 17:10-11
INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT
II. GOD AND THE CHOSEN FAMILY, Genesis 12-50
1. The History of Abraham and His Son Isaac, Genesis 11:27-25:11
25. Explain the change in Abram’s name. What new sign marked the renewal of God’s covenant with him?
ABRAHAM AND THE COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; Walk [habitually] before Me [with integrity, knowing that you are always in My presence], and be blameless and complete [in obedience to Me].
“I will establish My covenant (everlasting promise) between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly [through your descendants].”
Then Abram fell on his face [in worship], and God spoke with him, saying,
“As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And [as a result] you shall be the father of many nations.
“No longer shall your name be Abram (exalted father), But your name shall be Abraham (father of a multitude); For I will make you the father of many nations.
I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.
I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. [Gal_3:16]
I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger [moving from place to place], all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession [of property]; and I will be their God.” [Act_7:5]
Further, God said to Abraham, “As for you [your part of the agreement], you shall keep and faithfully obey [the terms of] My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.
This is [the sign of] My covenant, which you shall keep and faithfully obey, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be the sign (symbol, memorial) of the covenant between Me and you.
Every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, [including] a servant whether born in the house or one who is purchased with [your] money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants.
A servant who is born in your house or one who is purchased with your money must be circumcised; and [the sign of] My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
And the male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
Comments by
F.B.Meyer
On
Genesis 17:1-14
GOD’S COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM
At least thirteen years had passed since the promise of Isaac was first made. Years of sorrow and discipline, but God had not forgotten. Always under such circumstances the Eternal voice bids us to walk before him and be perfect. Our surrender must be complete, our obedience absolute, our faith fixed steadfastly on the Promiser. So only can God fulfill His covenant, which includes fruitfulness, the salvation of our households, the inheritance and abundance of spiritual reproductiveness. These promises were made to Abram, being yet uncircumcised, when he was yet a Gentile, proving that they were irrespective of any mere Hebrew interpretation. See Rom_4:11. But the rite was the sign and seal of the national covenant with the Hebrew race. Spiritually it stands for the separation of the believer; and though the rite passed away with Judaism, its spiritual significance is permanent, see Col_2:11.
Comments by
WILLIAM MACDONALD
Believers Bible Commentary
On
Genesis 17:1-14
II. THE PATRIARCHS OF ISRAEL (Chaps. 12-50)
A. Abraham (12:1–25:18)
17:1-14 God’s words to Abram in verse 1 may have been a veiled way of saying that he should stop trying to work things out in his own strength and let Almighty God work for him. Immediately afterward God renewed His covenant and changed the patriarch’s name from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude). Circumcision was then instituted as a sign of the covenant. This surgical operation, performed on the male child, was a physical sign that the person belonged to God’s chosen earthly people. Although it was already practiced in the Middle East at this time, it took on new meaning for Abraham and his family. Every male in Abraham’s house was circumcised, and thereafter every male baby was to be circumcised when he was eight days old or else be cut off from his people—that is, put away from the congregation of Israel (vv. 9-14). The expression “cut off” sometimes means to put to death, as in Exo_31:14-15. In other places, as here, it seems to mean to ban or ostracize.
The Apostle Paul is careful to point out that Abraham was justified (Gen_15:6) before he was circumcised. His circumcision was “a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised” (Rom_4:11). Believers today are not sealed with a physical mark; they receive the Holy Spirit as a seal at the time of their conversion (Eph_4:30).
THE SIGN OF CIRCUMCISION
Circumcision was adopted by God as a physical sign of the covenant between Him and His people (Gen_17:10-14). Thus all descendants of Abraham became known as “the circumcision” (Act_10:45) and Gentiles were called the “uncircumcision” (Eph_2:11). It is also the sign and seal of the righteousness which Abraham had by faith (Rom_4:5).
But then the words “circumcision” and “circumcised” took on a variety of meanings. “Uncircumcised lips” (Exo_6:12) signified a lack of skill in public speaking. “Uncircumcised ears” and “uncircumcised hearts” spoke of failure to hear, love, and obey the Lord (Lev_26:41; Deu_10:16; Deu_30:6; Jer_6:10; Act_7:51). “Uncircumcised in flesh” (Eze_44:7) meant unclean.
In the NT, “the circumcision of Christ” (Col_2:11) refers to His death on the cross. Believers are circumcised through their identification with Christ; Paul speaks of it as “the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh” (Col_2:11). This circumcision speaks of death to the fleshly nature. It is true positionally of every believer, but should be followed by a practical mortifying of the sinful deeds of the flesh (Col_3:5). The apostle speaks of believers as the true circumcision (Php_3:3), in contrast to a party of Jewish legalists known as “the circumcision” (Gal_2:12).
In addition to their symbolism, some of God’s kindly laws were designed to save His people from the diseases of the Gentiles. Many medical authorities today believe that circumcision tends to prevent certain forms of cancer in both the man and his wife.
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