Covenants by Circumcision

Genesis 17; Colossians 2:10-13

WARNING: Very Graphic description (to some) having a very clear understanding of circumcision (see The Message clear language explanation of circumcision in Genesis 17).

In Exodus we are told of the plans for the tabernacle, the main tent, and the curtains which surrounded the complete grounds of the tabernacle were to be made according to the pattern shown to Moses in the mountain. Later in Scripture this pattern was called "a shadow of things to come".

In James 3 we are told of how the tongue being so small can affect so much very like a rudder on a ship is so amall and can steer the entire direction of that vessel.

Throughout Scripture there are many patterns and small examples of much greater truths. Take the five barley loaves and two fish that were used to feed 5000 men beside women and children. The whole exercise was to teach the disciples a lesson (Jesus had asked the disciples how they could feed so many, but He knew what He was going to do). A basic lesson for the disciples of taking something so basic, so small and seeing what God can do with it to meet the need of every man, woman, and child.

In Genesis 17 God tells Abram, now Abraham to make a very small sign of a very large covenant. Of more than a dozen quite common versions and paraphrases of the Bible it is only The Message paraphrase makes God's direction quite clear and understandable telling of God's introduction of circumcision. Circumcision is the cutting off of the foreskin on the man's penis. This foreskin, part of God's design of the male body, was to be cut off as a clear symbol of God's covenant with Abraham (the point at which his name was changed from Abram). The significance of the reason for cutting off this foreflesh is best described physically because it was a place on the man where corruption and infection could easily occur within the flesh. On an uncircumcised male this cleansing required frequently pulling back this foreskin to assure that this reproductive organ of the man was kept extremely clean. This was critical as urine expelled from the man came through the same flesh cover with even more potential contaminates to cause infections. So there was this great need to wash the penis with this foreflesh pulled back simply to continually avoid infection from being unclean inside. An infection from impurities inside the foreflesh on the end of the penis could be the most painful and potentially destructive to a man. And also to the woman with whom the man is intimate with in intercourse.

With all this explanation of circumcision and the importance of circumcision it helps make understanding this part of Scripture in Colossians 2 much clearer all being a pattern, “a shadow of things to come”.

"... circumcision made without hands, by the putting off of the sinful body of the flesh, through the circumcision of Christ.

In that ye are buried with him through baptism, in whom ye are also raised up together through the faith of the operation of God, which raised him from the dead.

...and you which were dead in sins, in the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened (made alive) together with Him, forgiving you all your trespasses."

Colossians 2:11-13 GNV

Oh that cutting away of that easily infected and easy to be diseased flesh, putting off the sinful body. What an amazing sign that God designed into the body for the purpose of an amazing covenant only to use it as very small example of what His greatest covenant would be, the forgiveness of all our trespasses. Trespasses, so readily demonstrated by that easily physical infected part of man by simply being unwashed therefore making a man unclean. And that old fleshly covering where sin so easily causes infection being removed by God raising Jesus Christ from the dead!

Read God's covenant of circumcision in Genesis 17, a covenant made to one man, Abraham, along with his name change from Abram. And now consider here the covenant God has made to everyone in Him, that removal of sinful flesh. This makes it clearer when reading Colossians 3:1,

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above." There then is that life in Christ hidden in God.

The hope I have is that the understanding of circumcision both in the covenant to Abraham, and here the covenant not made with hands, completely cutting away the flesh so full of impurity, so easily infected, having that impurity, the infection of trespasses being forgiven. What a great truth from such a seemingly innocent piece of flesh being cut away, an example of how our sins being forgiven changes our entire lives.

Be neither sfraid or ashamed to understand what physical circumcision is and how it represents the greatest covenant that God through Jesus Christ has made, the forgiveness of sin