Circumcision

Father, we thank you for Your Word for the entrance of Your Word brings light and may that light be made to shine forth in our lives in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

Joshua 5:2 (NKJV)

"At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time."

Amen, thank you LORD.

In case you are wondering, the LORD was asking Joshua to circumcise the children of Israel the second time because all the people who came out of Egypt were circumcised, but their children who had been born in the wilderness had not been circumcised (Joshua 5:5).

God gives Joshua this instruction before the children of Israel take possession of their promised land which was a seal of their covenant. If you recall, when God gave Abraham the promise, his son Isaac, the males in his household including Abraham were all circumcised as a seal of God's covenant with him. That is, Abraham would have many descendants and through his seed all the nations of the world would be blessed. However, it is important to note that Abraham believed God's promise before he got circumcised which justifies him as our father of faith. Romans 4:20-21 (NKJV) says "He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform."

With the children of Israel, unlike their parents, God only instructed Joshua to circumcise them after they crossed over the Jordan. This is most likely because they believed God and demonstrated their faith to enter the promised land unlike their parents. Just like Abraham, after this younger generation of the children of Israel believed God, their physical circumcision came as a seal of God's covenant and promises to them.

In the new Testament, Romans 2:28-29 (NKJV) says, "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God."

When you become born again, you no longer undergo a physical circumcision or an outward expression that would make you right with God but rather a spiritual circumcision which is of the heart whose praise is not from men but from God. This circumcision is no longer limited to gender and the Jew but on all who would receive the Lord Jesus.

Also, it is important to note that this circumcision of heart does not only happen at salvation. The circumcision of heart continually applies in different seasons of your life as you grow and walk in the Lord during your salvation journey.

As an example, let's look at Jesus' life here on earth. He grows up in his family and hometown. Later on, he returns to share the gospel with them, but the people did not believe in Him so He moves onto other cities to preach God's Word (Matthew 14:53-58). A circumcision of heart took place in Him. Later on, Jesus has to go to the cross and die for the sins of the world, it was a heavy price to pay, to say the least to the point that He cried with tears in prayer to the Father God (Hebrews 5:7-8). Nevertheless, Jesus said to the Father, "...not My will, but Your will be done." (Luke 22:42). Another circumcision of His heart took place.

When He resurrected from the dead, I believe His departure was an emotional time for His disciples and for Him as well because Jesus was human. He experienced the emotions and feelings of being human but did not sin. I believe he would probably miss the physical presence of the disciples as well like Simon's zeal and love for Him and John who convinced himself that he was most loved by Him. However, another circumcision of heart had to take place for it was time for Jesus to return to the Father.

This circumcision of heart in the life of a believer only takes place with the help of God because it is Him who works in us both to will and to do according to His purposes. (Philippians 2:13).

Apostle Paul in his letters to the church emphasized that circumcision and uncircumcision will not profit a child of God anything, but only faith in Christ working through love (Galatians 5:6 ). As seen above, the faith of Abraham and the faith of the latter generation of the children of Israel confirm the Apostle's Word for they portray God's heart when it comes to circumcision. That is, circumcision comes as a result of our faith. One who does not know or has never heard of God and His Son, Christ cannot experience a circumcision of heart.

You may wonder then why does the law tell babies who do not yet know about God to get circumcised after eight days of birth? - The simple answer is, the babies are circumcised because they already belong to the covenant of God's people. They do not get circumcised so that they will be able to belong as God's children. The former is based on faith and the latter is based on works which was what Apostle Paul was against.

Prayer: Thank you LORD that You are opening up the eyes of our understanding to the revelation of this truth and circumcising our hearts where necessary for You are working in us both to will and to do for Your good pleasure in the name of Jesus, Amen.

I'll end with this Word found in Colossians 2:6-7 (AMP)

6. "Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus our Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in in the things you do and say- living lives that lead others away from sin],

7. having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing in it with gratitude."

   
   

Amen, thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: On that note, if you would like to be born again into God's Kingdom, that is saved and have a personal relationship with God as Your Father and you as His child by receiving His Son, Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, I invite you to say this confession:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever." AMEN.