Daily Devotions
Genesis
"But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God." Psalm 31:14
Text: Genesis 17:1-27
THE SIGN OF THE COVENANT
We can well understand just why Abraham fell on his face as God spoke to him! Who wouldn’t tremble at the thought of God offering such wonderful promises! The Lord went on to give Abram a special sign!
“And God said to Abraham, ‘As for you,
you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants
after you throughout their generations. 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.”GENESIS 17:9-10
The sign of the Abrahamic covenant was clearly spelt out! Every male child “shall be circumcised”. All descendants must practise circumcision as their acceptance of the Abrahamic covenant! (And Abraham didn’t even have an heir when this word was given! He would have to exercise great faith in God, for He had spoken about future generations as if that was a forgone conclusion)!
APPLICATION OF THE RITE OF CIRCUMCISION
To prevent any possible misunderstanding, God gave specific details concerning the rite of circumcision.
“And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins,
And it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
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. 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. 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.”GENESIS 17:11-14
1. Only with reference to male children
There is no command concerning female circumcision! This does not mean exclusion of girls in the Abrahamic covenant. Males were to carry the family line! Thus they were the ones who would receive the sign of the Covenant. (The Scriptures reject the practice of female circumcision as unnecessary, cruel and void of any spiritual value)!
2. Gracious Provision for “outsiders”
Provision was made for “outsiders” to be included in the Abrahamic Covenant through the rite of circumcision. This allowed even slaves to enter into the covenant!