Wednesday – May 18, 2016
Greeting in the name of our Lord Jesus. Have you noticed how quickly the days seem to rush by? Lord help me to redeem the time. Our time will be productive as we are diligent about the Lord’s work not being fools but pursuing His will without compromise.
Ephesians 5:15-17 (KJV)
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
The first circumcision, the one required by God of Abraham and all Jews that followed, all of the faith of the Jew, is a type and shadow of what Jesus would do at Calvary some 2000 years later.
Colossians 2:11 (KJV)
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
This act of circumcision represented the casting off of sin that would occur when Jesus would ratify the Blood Covenant initiated with Abram starting in Chapter twelve of Genesis and taking concrete form with blood sacrifice in chapter fifteen. The blood of these innocent animals was surrogate (substitute, proxy) blood for God. The circumcision of Abram/Abraham completed this Blood Covenant, sealed it. Now, some two-thousand years later Jesus would come and fulfill this covenant changing things between God and man eternally. Now back to Genesis seventeen.
Genesis 17:10-14 (KJV)
10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
13 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.
14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
This act of circumcision was to be performed on the Hebrew boy children on the eighth (8 = new beginning) day after birth looking forward to the Savior who would bring the New Beginning. Genesis 17:11 makes it clear this act of circumcision is but a token, a foreshadowing, of what will come at Calvary. The significance of eight days correlates with the capacity of a baby’s blood to clot properly but the more poignant meaning or symbolism is that of a new beginning. A new beginning (number eight) not just for the individuals that receive Jesus but mankind as a whole. Because of the sacrifice of Christ we as individuals can go into the Most Holy Place, we do not have to wait for the High Priest, and we don’t have to sacrifice any animals. With repentance and sincerity of heart we enter in and our Heavenly Father receives us as His very own, His very own child.
From the time of Abraham to the Cross there was a new beginning for all that would accept the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This covenant as wonderful as it was, it was but a shadow of the fulfillment that would come at Calvary setting us free forever in Him (Christ). This circumcision of Abraham activated and the circumcision that occurred at Calvary completed this everlasting Blood Covenant. Each of us in turn as we accept Jesus also enter into this everlasting Covenant.
Once Jesus paid the price at Calvary sin was not separating anyone from God. What separates us from God is the rejection of Jesus, the Christ, and the rejection of the shed Blood of Jesus. Acceptance gives us entry to the Kingdom of God and a new and far superior way of thinking and living. Just because this was only done in males (not anatomically possible in females) did not mean that the females were out in the cold they came in by their fathers, husbands, or kinsman redeemer (Boaz and Ruth) and by their faith in that covenant. Remember it was the faith of Abraham that made him righteous (Genesis 15:6). Finally notice in Genesis 17:14 that the failure to be circumcised resulted in the person being cut off from those who were circumcised, just as a person’s failure to receive Jesus results in eternal separation from God and the family of God. Stay tuned.
By Pastor David R. Wood
