That covenant being the one of circumcision. Why circumcision? Well, I don't know. Sure God could have done anything to set up another covenant with Abram but this is the one he chose. With a little examination of what God was doing we can see a continuing pattern throughout the bible.
God's promise to Abram was one that said that Abram would have a family and heritage larger than the stars in the sky and just too numerous to count. This promise was recommitted with the covenant of circumcision. Not only was this promise made but Abram got a name change, Abraham, even his wife Sarai, her name was changed to Sarah. But of course what stands out is this physical act that Abram is not only to perform on himself but also the members of his family and servitude are to do. What does this symbolize?
Well Abraham did make mistakes. (Check out previous blogs) But God did not give up on him. In fact the promises that he first made with the whole passing through the animals cut in half thing was still in effect. The circumcision covenant not only continued that but expanded upon it. Sure God could have said, "Abram, you screwed up and I'm going to find someone else to make a great generation out of, anyway your really old as it is." (Abraham was in his nineties at the time of the circumcision covenant) That didn't happen and Abraham followed what God wanted him to do.
Circumcision was not just some kind of odd request. Throughout the Bible God establishes individuals and groups of people to set themselves apart from the world around them. For Abraham and the males of his family this was how it was supposed to be. If you go forward in the Bible to Moses and the great exodus you will come to a part in the story where God gives out laws to the people. Many of those laws are there so that other nations will know the Isrealite nation. Basically the laws set them apart from other nations. If you take a look at Daniel and Esther later on in the Bible you will see people who have set themselves apart from the surroundings that they are in. And God takes care of them. Go even further to Jesus and you find radical teachings that are all about setting ones self apart from world. Look at Paul and the early church. Once again people who set themselves apart.
What does this all mean? Let me ask this question, how do we set ourselves apart from the ways of the world that we live in? More often than not we don't set ourselves apart. We try to fit in because fitting in is less confrontational. Isn't life supposed to be easy? I don't what book your reading when you take a look at the Bible but I don't see an easy life. I see challenges that are rewarded in eternal ways. You might have some "what ifs?" in your mind. And I'm pretty sure those "what ifs?" will be addressed in the future.
