This topic came up briefly in our discussion last week, and I wanted to find out more about it, so I turned to the Word. These are just my observations of when God started the covenant with Abram, I hope you'll share your thoughts!
First, God told Abram who he was. He made it clear to Abram he was dealing with the Almighty, with the Creator. "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless" Genesis 17:1 I'm sure this would have comforted Abram a little, knowing this voice is the voice of God and he's asking him to "walk before me". Second, God tells Abram about his covenant which is between the two of them. It's not a one-way covenant. It doesn't say just Abram or just God has to keep there side of the covenant. God says "I will confirm my covenant between me and you..." Genesis 1:2
Third, God re-named Abram to
Abraham. I think this is really neat. It's like God is telling you this day is special, and this covenant is even more important so I'm going to change your name. Don't you think this would have been a nice reminder to Abraham about God's covenant, every time he was called by his new name? By his friends, his wife, and God! I mean he had been called Abram for 100 years, literally! And it's not like God says here is a new nickname for you, he's your heavenly Father and he is re-naming you!
Fourth, God tells Abraham a piece of his end of the covenant. This is an important part of the deal not only for Abraham, but for his children and
ALL of his descendants. "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: be fruitful and multiply." What?! Just kidding on the last part, I was just making sure you were paying attention! God instead says, "Every male among you shall be circumcised." Genesis 17:9-10 He goes on to say in verse 11-12, "You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring."
But, listen to this, it's very important..."Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant." Genesis 17:14 Do you think God would really cut off one of his people just because they were uncircumcised? Would he cut off Abraham, Issac, or Jacob? These are key people to the history of Israel. What about Moses? Here's a story to read, which inspired me to post this blog! :)
We fast forward to Exodus chapter 4. God has just spoke to Moses through the burning bush about going to Egypt and bringing his people out of slavery. As Moses is on his journey to Egypt, the Lord comes to kill him. What!? This time I'm not just seeing if you're still paying attention. Here's the scripture, "At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him." My first question reading this story is the obvious, why? Why would God do this? Wouldn't this keep his people oppressed as slaves if he stopped Moses? Well, we find out why God was
about to kill Moses. It's the part of the covenant that I told you to
listen, it's very important! Here, I'll remind you, it's at the beginning of the previous paragraph, take a quick look again. So, why didn't God kill Moses? Here's the next verse, "But Zipporah (Moses' wife) took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it. 'Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,' she said. So the Lord let him alone." (At that time she said "bridegroom of blood," referring to circumcision.)
Wow, powerful huh? That's what I thought! I mean Moses is as important to the early old testament scriptures as Paul is to the numerous books of the new testament. How different the bible would be if God didn't spare Moses that day! Anyway, I thought this was an interesting story, but I'm more interested in hearing what all of you think about this same thing! :)
