Circumcision

September 10, 2017 Background Scripture: Genesis 17 Lesson Passage: Genesis 17:1 – 14 The sign of circumcision is the focus of today’s lesson. There are historical records of circumcision being used as a medical procedure over four thousand years ago. In fact, circumcision as a medical procedure predates Abraham by over two thousand years. Because the procedure has been noted in historical documents all over the world, circumcision is believed to have originated in Africa (the cradle of humanity) prior to the dispersion of mankind to the various regions around the globe. Although the medical procedure is clearly documented, the original purpose for circumcision is not. It appears to have been used in some cultures as a transition time from youth to adulthood for young males. It is thought that uncircumcised males had greater difficulty reproducing and they were left like that until they were mature enough to provide for a family. Some cultures also circumcised females. A number of religions adopted circumcision as a ritual over the course of time. These include Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—which all originated from the descendants of Abraham. The scriptures do not divulge the physical purpose of such a painful procedure. What the scriptures do make clear is that circumcision is an act of obedience that God required of Abraham, his male descendants, and the male servants in his household. This was a covenant sign that God established with Abraham. All families that were included in the covenant blessings were required to have all of their males circumcised. Any uncircumcised male descendant of Abraham or his servants who were not circumcised was left out of the covenant God made with Abraham to bless them. Going forward from God’s encounter with Abraham, newborn males were required to be circumcised on the eight day. At the time Abraham received this covenant from God, he was ninety-nine years old and his son, Ishmael was thirteen years old. His servants were probably of various ages with many of them identified by number as old enough to go to war. All of them were circumcised on the same day God established the covenant. However, before they were circumcised, God had a couple of other surprises (blessings) for Abraham. God gave Abram and his wife Sarai new names. This was in celebration of the blessings God was about to bestow on them. The new names signified that nations would descend from them. From that point on, they would be known as Abraham and Sarah. Sarah, who was eighty-nine at the time, would give birth to a son for Abraham who would inherit the covenant. Because of this, Sarah would become a mother of nations. Apparently this was too much for Abraham all at one time. He started laughing at the thought of being one hundred years old and fathering a child and Sarah giving birth at the age of ninety years after she had been barren all of her life. God assured Abraham that He would cause Sarah to conceive and bear a child in her advanced years. Abraham ratified the covenant by circumcising all as God commanded him. Robert C. Hudson August 23, 2017