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Genesis 17 – Why Circumcision?
I have often wondered why God chose that peculiar sign of His covenant with Abraham and His descendants. Let me give three possible answers why.
First, a covenant by definition means cutting. In biblical times these were often sealed by severing an animal, with the implication that the party who breaks the covenant will suffer a similar fate (Genesis 15). If we break our covenant with God, we too suffer a separation. Circumcision is a cutting.
Second, God always (and anthropomorphically) “thought ahead”. In the mind of God, the NT happened before the OT so that what historically came first could prefigure the latter. God chose a physical cutting so that He could, even within the Old Covenant, later speak of repentance as circumcising the heart (Jeremiah 4:4). This is connected in the New Covenant with baptism where we undergo the “circumcision of Christ” (Colossians 2:11-12). Christ was literally cut in making His covenant; and we cut the world off from ourselves in the baptism of repentance (Acts 2:38).
Third, both the Old and New Covenants begin with God’s grace. Abraham and Sarah could not have children. For males you can’t get more uncomfortable and personal than circumcision; and yet it is a sign that Abraham did not, and could not, fufill the covenant of starting the nation promise. Romans 4 connects three things as only possible with God: 1) Creation out of nothing; 2) Isaac’s birth from two good as dead parents; 3) Justification by faith. This declaration of innocence begins with Jesus’ crucified cutting, and resurrection. Circumcision was a sign that both covenants began with God giving grace. As an interesting addendum, the Israelites were commanded to circumcise their baby boys on the day eight. Medically that is important because it would help with the bleeding. But as a type of Christ, using language of early Christians, Jesus was resurrected on the first day which they called the eighth day.
Ultimately we can give a fourth – because God said so. Abraham had to undergo circumcision because God said so. Jesus died on the cross because God’s will said so. Have you cut yourself off from the world by baptism? Many argue against baptism’s necessity; but…God said so.
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