Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - CIRCUMCISION

CIRCUMCISION

When Abraham was ninety-nine, God made a covenant with him saying:

 

“…walk before Me and be blameless.

…and [I] will multiply you exceedingly.

This is My covenant which you shall keep…

every male child shall be circumcised;

…He who is eight days old shall be circumcised… 

(Genesis 17:1-2,10,12)

Circumcision was a practice carried out by a number of cultures in the Middle East at that time. But it was especially important for the Jewish nation because of the covenant between God and Abraham. The cutting away of the flesh indicated that no trust should be put in the flesh but rather in having faith in God’s instruction. The Jewish people had little respect for those who were uncircumcised and considered them doomed by God.

And the uncircumcised male child…

[he] shall be cut off from his people;

he has broken My covenant. 

(Genesis 17:14)

David also spoke regarding this in reference to Goliath when he said:

…For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, 

that he should defy the armies of the living God? 

(1 Samuel 17:26)

In addition to the symbolism regarding the covenant with God, the act of circumcision was also felt to have, for the individual, some health benefits with improved hygiene and the likelihood of less disease transmission. But with all this, why did God say:

He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised… 

(Genesis 17:12)

Thus, the emphasis was not only on circumcision, but on it being done on the eighth day.

Why the eight day? That happens to be the time when the infant’s immune system and blood clotting mechanisms are peaking. At that time in history, only God would be aware of this fact. So, in addition to this being a covenant sign, it was also a medical feasibly.

Furthermore as mentioned above, the cutting away of the flesh was a symbol of trust not being put in the flesh but in the fact that faith and trust in God was more important. Hence, Colossians states that:

In Him you were also circumcised 

with the circumcision made without hands, 

by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh… 

(Colossians 2:11)

Indicating that cutting off the flesh of the foreskin was not nearly as important as cutting off the sins of the flesh, in other words having a circumcision of the heart. 

Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.

(Deuteronomy 10:16)

And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart…

to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 

that you may live. 

(Deuteronomy 30:6)

Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,

And take away the foreskins of your heart… 

(Jeremiah 4:4)

Symbolism in the Bible often has both a practical (historical, medical, etc.) reason for its being as well as a spiritual application. Knowing both reasons certainly helps make the total meaning more clear.

In addition, it does give one something more to think about.