The Everlasting Covenant - 7.0 Circumcision: A Token

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7.0 Circumcision: Token of the Covenant

by Hubert F. Sturges, www.everlastingcovenant.com, February 15, 2010

Topics:
    To Be a Jew
    A Token of the Covenant
    The Context
    To Preserve the Family
    Ended When Messiah Came
    Circumcision of the Heart

To Be a Jew

Abraham and his descendants had a strong self-identity as God’s chosen covenant people (1). This began with the covenant with Abraham and has continued down through the years to this day! This was reinforced by a detailed and sophisticated belief system which governed not just their worship system but their entire lives. The Sabbath became the sign of their belief in a loving God who could be approached and who desired their fellowship (2). Circumcision was the physical token of the covenant identifying them as followers of the living God (3).

It was in the setting of the covenant that Abram’s name was changed to Abraham (Genesis 17:5) – to be populous, father of a multitude (– Strongs). In this same setting the token of circumcision was also given.  On that very self-same day Abraham, Ishmael, and every male in the household of Abraham were circumcised (Genesis 17:23). Note that when Abraham understood the will of God, his obedience was prompt!

In Jewish tradition circumcision is the primary symbol of male membership within the Jewish people and the sign of entry into the covenant made with Abraham. The rite of circumcision (brit milah) is done on the eighth day; reasoning that creation took place in six days, followed by the Sabbath, man began his work on the eighth day. It is also on the eighth day that the child is given his Hebrew name (3).

Non-Jews who chose to unite with the commonwealth of Israel were required to submit to circumcision (3).  At the time of the Passover in Egypt, non-Jews were allowed to partake of the Passover only if they were circumcised and in effect became Jews.

   “He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant” (Genesis 17:13).
The term “circumcision” was also used in a figurative sense. The Philistines were referred to as “uncircumcised” (Judges 14:3). This was literally true, but the term came to be practically equivalent to the word “heathen” or “gentile.” Jeremiah referred to Israel as being “uncircumcised in the heart” (Jeremiah 9:26), and “their ear is uncircumcised” (Jeremiah 6:10). To have uncircumcised ears and hearts is to be unwilling to heed divine instructions.

A Token of the Covenant

No male member of Hebrew society, whether free or slave, was exempted from Circumcision. This became the sign to Israel that they were God’s people. With the rejection of literal Israel as God’s chosen people, circumcision ceased to have significance in the Christian Church as a religious rite (4).

The purpose of circumcision from Genesis 17 is simply to be a token of the covenant. In the New Testament the significance of this rite as the symbol of the changed life is emphasized. These are general purposes and are important. The specific purposes of circumcision and why it would affect the reproductive organ is not clear on the surface (see listed items in bold), though a number of opinions are offered. Here are three different lists of purposes:

    1. To distinguish the seed of Abraham from the Gentiles (Ephesians 2:11),
    2. To perpetuate the memory of Jehovah’s covenant (Genesis 17:11),
    3. To foster the cultivation of moral purity (Deuteronomy 10:16),
    4. To represent righteousness by faith (Romans 4:11),
    5. To symbolize circumcision of the heart (Romans 5:29), and
    6. To foreshadow the Christian rite of baptism (Colossians 2:11,12).

Circumcision is the physical sign of the everlasting covenant. Reasons given are:

    1) to sanctify the body of a newborn male to the divine service,
    2) to help control his sexual urges and channel them to perpetuate his people,
    3) to make a sacrifice to God, akin to the blood atonement for one’s sins.
    4) may also have been a symbolic wish for fertility (3).

These reasons by Ellen White in Patriarchs and Prophets, p.138 are that circumcision is a token that the person is:

    devoted to the service of God;
    separated from idolaters
    accepted as the peculiar treasure by God
    determined to fulfill the conditions of the covenant
    not to marry with the heathen (unbelievers).

Circumcision was the sign of the covenant with literal Israel as baptism is for spiritual Israel (5). The one was related to physical birth; the other accompanies the spiritual rebirth.

The Context

Significant is the place in the narrative where circumcision was given. Genesis 15 describes Abram’s offer of Eliezer as his heir. God responded by telling Abram that he would have a natural born son, through whom the covenant would be fulfilled.  God then repeated the covenant and confirmed it by a special ceremony. Abram learned that it would be 400 years  before his descendants would inherit the land.

Abram did not understand God’s timetable. It was a test of his faith. Abram thought that he should “do his part” to fulfill the covenant. Genesis 16 tells the story of Abram taking Hagar as a second wife and the birth of Ishmael.

Four years later God gently remonstrates with Abram.  “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect” (Genesis 17:1).  Abram had apparently learned some lessons. When God gave him the covenant again, Abram “fell on his face.” He believed God. He had learned to stop trying to do what only God can do. Here Abram’s name is changed to “Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.” Circumcision was then given as a “token of the covenant (4).” Some have thought that circumcision was given at that time because of the incident of Hagar.

Here is a summary of the covenant made with Abraham (Genesis 17:2-8):

   1. Abraham will be very fruitful, with nations and kings as his descendants.
   2. The covenant is of everlasting duration, between not only God and Abraham, but God and all of Abraham's descendants.
   3. God promises to be Abraham's God and the God of all his descendants.
   4. The whole land of Canaan will be an everlasting possession to Abraham and his descendants.
To Preserve the Family

Were there other reasons? Why would God choose circumcision as the sign of the covenant? Prominent in the covenant was the promise that Abraham would become a great nation. His seed were to be as numerous as the stars or the sand of the sea shore. Even more important, the Messiah would come in the seed of Abraham (Genesis 22:18; Galatians 3:16). In Him all families of the earth would be blessed. Circumcision symbolized dedication of the normal reproductive life of His people.

An everlasting covenant was given to Abraham with the promise and the prophecy that “in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 22:18) referred to Christ and to the responsibility of his descendants to reach all peoples (Galatians 3:16). In response, Abraham “believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Abraham was expected to command his household after him, walk as if in the presence of God, and to be circumcised as a sign of the covenant.

Considering that circumcision was given as a rite symbolizing dedication of man’s reproductive and family life to God, with preservation of their heredity in preparation for the coming Messiah – one can see that this rite would come to an end when Messiah came. This is exactly what happened as recorded in Acts 15:1-31 and Romans 3:25-29.

It was also a symbol of purity. A person must chose his/her mate with great care. No one was to come between them or to break the circle of the home. Their heredity was to be closely guarded. They were to follow the laws of healthful living. Homes were to be happy, a foretaste of heaven. Children were to learn a useful trade and to value work. The education and the example of the home life were to be preserved from generation to generation. To be circumcised meant to dedicate one’s lifestyle to God, to prepare a people to receive the Messiah.

Ended When Messiah Came

When Jesus hung on the cross on Calvary, just before He died He cried with a loud voice “It is finished” (John 19:30). He had paid the price for man’s redemption. He had met the demands of the broken law. He had taken the worst that Satan could do to Him without retaliation. He could say, “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me” (John 14:30). The battle was  over and Jesus Christ was the victor!

   “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent” (Matthew 27:51).
Jesus had fulfilled the moral law by living a sinless life and becoming an example to all His followers.  He fulfilled the ceremonial law by His willing sacrifice on Calvary. It is through His sacrifice that grace is provided that every Christian may live a victorious life. The ceremonies, rituals, and sacrifices now had no more significance. Men would now worship God “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23, 24). Included in these ceremonies was circumcision which had now lost its symbolic value.

Circumcision was never intended to be a physical sign only. A memorial, a sign – yes. But dedication of the heart and mind were of even greater importance, even from the first.

   “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked” (Deuteronomy 10:16; see also Romans 2:25-29).
The early Christian church was a Jewish church. It was not fully understood that the ceremonies had met their fulfillment. The Jews were reluctant to let go of, what had been up to then, their assurance of salvation. They were disturbed to see Gentiles come into the church not having been circumcised and not taking part in the ceremonies. These men began to circulate among the newly formed churches saying, “Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1). Paul, Barnabas, and others traveled to Jerusalem for a council.

   “But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses”  (Acts 15:5).
Peter spoke pointing out that Gentiles came into the church and were given the Holy Ghost just as were the Jews. There was no difference. He continued:

   10 “Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
   11 “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they” (Acts 15:10-11).
Paul and Barnabas in the same line spoke of the miracles and wonders that even the converted Gentiles were doing. A consensus was quickly reached. The Gentiles were asked to follow four restrictions and four restrictions only, which the apostles felt were still needed. James summarized their decision:

   19 “Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
   20 “but that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood” (Acts 15:19-20).
Note that these four restrictions related to ceremonies. The ten commandment law was not discussed, either to support or to deny it’s continued authority. Even the restriction from fornication related especially to the ritual prostitution practiced by the pagans of that day.

Paul took the position that literal circumcision had become meaningless (1 Corinthians 7:19; Galatians 5:6), and that the only kind of circumcision that mattered for the Christian was “that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter” (Romans 2:28,29).

   “A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code, such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God” (Romans 2:28-29, NIV).
Circumcision of the Heart

What does circumcision have to do with Christianity today?  Are there principles of circumcision that might apply to us in our day?

We find the answers as we read the Old Testament. The Israelites rather early learned that there is a difference between outward and inward circumcision.

    * In Leviticus, God talks about Israel's future treachery and hostility towards him, using the term "uncircumcised hearts" (Leviticus 26:40-41).
    * Moses commands the people: "Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer" (Deuteronomy 10:16).
    * At the giving of the Law, Moses says, "The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live" (Deuteronomy 30:6).
    * Jeremiah called on the Israelites to "Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts...." (Jeremiah 4:4) and mourned that "the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart" (Jeremiah 9:26).
    * Stephen angered his enemies by calling them "stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears!" (Acts 7:51, referring to Deuteronomy 10:16).
    * Paul wrote, "A man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code" (Romans 2:29).
The prophets and apostles declare that physical circumcision is not enough. The heart, too, must be cleansed. Finally, Christianity moves away from circumcision to a new mark of the covenant -- baptism.