We concluded our previous article about Abraham with the promise to write more about circumcision, and this we will now do. The Lord had promised in the fourth verse to make a covenant with Abraham and give him the blessings of the covenant. However, then Abraham was confronted with the duties of the covenant. In the form for Holy Baptism it is expressed in this way: "Whereas in all covenants there are contained two parts: therefore are we, by God through baptism, admonished of and obliged unto new obedience …" The great request for Abraham was "Walk before Me, and be thou perfect." What is now added refers more to the outward sign of circumcision.

When circumcision is described as an obligation, this does not deny that it is also a privilege. The duty is written in verse 10: "This is My covenant, which ye shall keep …  every man child shall be circumcised." When we speak of this divine institution, we must realize that it was also a custom to do this in other countries, such as Egypt, Edom, Ammon, Moab, etc. The nations which had a close relationship with Abraham could also have adopted circumcision. The Edomites are descendants of Esau, the Arabs have their origin primarily out of the marriages with Hagar and Keturah, and the Moabites and the Ammonites have Lot as their ancestor. However, this cannot be said of other nations which are also mentioned in the Bible.

We believe that circumcision was not completely unknown as a ritual to Abraham when the Lord commanded him to do so and maintain it as an institution of the Lord. We find something similar later on in the history of Israel. When they came to Mount Sinai, then the Lord commanded them to bring sacrifices unto Him. This was also done before. Think only of the history of Noah when he came out of the ark; he then sacrificed unto the Lord. Although it was not the custom in Abraham's native country to circumcise, he nevertheless must have been in contact with other tribes and nations where this custom was known.

When the Lord gave to Abraham the sacrament of circumcision, then it received a totally new character, because it then became a sign and seal of the Covenant of Grace which the Lord made with him: "It shall be a token of the covenant betwixt Me and you" (vs. 11b). From that time Abraham and his descendants would by circumcision receive a visible mark in their flesh of the covenant with God.

Many in the medical world believe that circumcision is beneficial, but there is definitely another purpose. Symbolically it portrays the cleansing of the heart and life of man, as is written in many places in God's Word (Lev 26:41; Deut. 10:16, etc.). Regeneration is symbolized by the cutting off of the foreskin of the heart, which will lead to a true devotion to God.

That the Lord has chosen this sign is for a very special reason. No sin is more common and more destructive than the sin of sensuality and lust. Often corruption culminates in this sin. Therefore exactly in this place the Lord commanded an incision to be made, so that everyone might perceive that he belonged to a sanctified people, who were to live holy before the Lord, just as they were separated from the world by circumcision.

It is also in our days that this sin mentioned is the main sin of our society. When we listen to modern philosophy, then there is no hindrance for anyone to live the way he wishes, also in sexual relationships. Young people, you must not go along with these modern views, for they will lead to your temporal and eternal destruction. The terrible consequences can be seen in our countries, consisting of divorces, abortions, single parent families, and the AIDS disease, also in children who have been infected by their parents. Millions are spent because of this, definitely affecting our economy by the astronomically high costs of health care. But, far worse, it affects our morale as a nation, which leads to such a degeneration that men begin to live as the animals.

An even more terrible conse­quence is that the Lord hides His face from such a country, church, or individual when His law is trampled underfoot. It brings darkness within the church, so that you hear of little spiritual growth among God's people and much complaining. Very little is spoken about the ways of the Lord, and as a consequence our young generation does not know how the Lord converts His people. How necessary it is to return to the Lord.

By baptism we are set apart from the world. It is no longer by circumcision, since Christ has shed His blood, for which reason the bloody sacraments are no longer necessary and have been abolished. Instead of the circumcision for the boys only, the Lord Jesus instituted Holy Baptism for both boys and girls, men and women. This He instituted shortly before His ascension.

Circumcision was the commission of the father of the family to which the child belonged. It was to be done on the eighth day after birth, and this was for natural and ceremonial reasons. The natural reason was that the child had to be able to bear the suffering of circumcision. It was painful, as we know from the history of the inhabitants of Shechem, who were killed by Simeon and Levi, the sons of Jacob, on the third day following circumcision for Dinah's sake. At that moment they were not able to defend themselves because they were in great pain. Regarding the ceremonial reason, we can read of this in Leviticus 12. Mother and son were unclean for seven days, and after that he was ceremonially clean and circumcision could take place.

If circumcision was not administered, then such a boy or man was to be cut off from his people, because the covenant of the Lord was broken. We also read in God's Word that the form of the covenant was broken when Israel served idols. Because they no longer kept God's commandments, they broke the bond with the Lord. When Moses came down from the mountain with the tables of the law in his hand, he broke them because the children of Israel danced around the golden calf. It was already mentioned that the circumcision of the foreskin pointed to the heart, as Moses said in Deuteronomy 10:16, "Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked." We find the same in the New Testament, where Paul writes to the Romans in chapter 2:29: "And circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter." (Read also Col. 2:11-12 and Phil. 3:3).

Calvin calls circumcision a symbolic representation of the putting away of the filth of the flesh and of sin in general. Hence it serves a variety of uses, such as:

1. to distinguish the seed of Abraham from the Gentiles;
2. to perpetuate the memory of Jehovah's covenant;
3. to foster in the nation the hope of the Messiah;
4. to remind them of their duty of cultivating moral piety (Deut.10:16);
5. to proclaim to them the gospel of righteousness of faith (Rom. 4:11);
6. to suggest the idea of a holy or a spiritual seed of Abraham (Rom. 2:29); and
7. to foreshadow the Christian rite of baptism (Co1.2:11-12).

After the Lord had instituted circumcision, the Lord spoke again to Abraham and instructed him further. In what way did this take place? The Lord then showed him how the fulfillment of the promise would take place. God had changed Abram's name to Abraham, and now the Lord told him that Sarai's name would become Sarah. She would not only be princely, but become a princess, because the Lord would bless her with a son. The Lord said that He would bless her and that nations and kings would be born of her. Thus she would become a princess or queen.

Here the Lord revealed to Abraham that which had been hidden from him during the twenty-four years since he had received the first promise regarding his descendants. It was that the son of promise would not be born of Hagar, but of Sarah. What a strife and wrestling at the throne of grace there had been in the heart of Abraham all those years. It is also likewise possible that God's people have a strife for a long time before the Lord shows what is hidden in His promise, just as He did with Abraham. It goes through the impossible, as Abraham felt it was impossible, humanly speaking, that the son of promise would be given in such a way. But we know that what is impossible on the side of man is possible with God. It is in God's wisdom that He follows such a way, because in that way the Lord will receive all the honor. Waiting is difficult for the flesh of man, but God's time is always the best time. This is taught in the school of the Lord.

When Abraham received the promise about Sarah's motherhood, he reacted in two ways. He fell on his face and he laughed. In verse 3 it is also said that he fell on his face. We have to explain this as a form of worshipping the Lord. His worshipping finds its origin in the divine glory and in the magnitude of this promise, as we see in that which is added, "Shall a child be born unto him that is and hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?"

Abraham also laughed, that is, a smile came upon his face, as a sign of his inner rejoicing of heart. It was a laugh of faith. It was no unbelief, as is found later in the life of Sarah (Gen. 18:12). Neither was it the laugh of mockery, as with Ishmael (Gen. 21:9). It was a laugh of joy, a laugh of faith, because the Lord would do what is impossible for man. The Lord Jesus said in John 8:56, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad." He was overjoyed. It is as though he would say, "Will this great wonder take place, that a man of one hundred years shall have a son, and that Sarah, who is ninety years old, shall receive a child? How great is God's power and how glorious His grace that He will bestow all this upon us."

We have seen that Abraham laughed, but it was not out of unbelief; this is likewise true with the question of Abraham which now follows. Calvin and the margin say his laughing and question were by faith and were a victory over all that resisted God's promise. The question of Abraham was about Ishmael: "O that Ishmael might live before Thee." This means, "Watch him by Thy divine eye, so he may be protected and blessed by Thee." Some explain this question of Abraham to mean he was not completely inclined to accept the word of the Lord and was afraid that his firstborn would be put in the back­ground. Therefore, they say the Lord expressly repeated the promise that Sarah would receive the son of promise, and that the Lord would make His covenant with Isaac.

The Lord's answer made it clear that Abraham was not to think Ishmael would be the head of the family and receive the promise of the coming Messiah. No, Isaac, the son of Sarah, would be the man with whom the Lord would make His covenant. However, this did not have to hinder Abraham from asking a blessing for Ishmael. He also was his son, and he loved him. And the Lord promised that He would also bless him, although it would be a natural and earthly blessing, "I …  will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant will I establish with Isaac" (Genesis 17:20b-21a).

Several times the Lord repeated this promise to Abraham. How necessary it is also for the church that the Lord repeats His word and promise to them, because His people are such a forgetful people. When faith is not in exercise, then we are so inclined to listen to the enemy, and we begin to doubt the words of the Lord. Is it not a blessing that, notwithstanding our unfaithfulness, the Lord never forgets His people? His faithfulness is new every day. Is this not the case, people of God? When the Lord confirms His promise again in our life, then we will be small and humble before Him. So we find it in the life of Abraham.

The question now is: Were the Ishmaelites excluded from all those spiritual blessings which the Lord promised to Isaac? No, they were not completely excluded from all spiritual blessings, because in Psalm 87 the Ethiopians, which form a part of Egypt, are also mentioned. Also, on the day of Pentecost the descendants of Ishmael are mentioned. The elect will come from all nations, from the north, south, east, and west. A remnant also from the descendants of Ishmael would be saved, although this nation was not chosen by the Lord as the one with which He would make His covenant.

After the Lord had confirmed His promise to Abraham, He ascended into heaven. This appearance had ended. Several times we read in this chapter that the Lord spoke again to Abraham. We cannot say how long this sweet communion with the Lord lasted, but it came to an end. For the church it always remains a changing life: "The day is Thine, but Thou hast also formed the night." In like manner all the sweet visits of the Lord come to an end, and the church has to go forward. In those visits they again receive food upon the way they have to go, for otherwise they would perish. Well known is the example of Simeon, who held the child Jesus in his arms, but had to give Him back to Mary. Of those visits of the Lord, something remains in the heart which they never will forget. When He is gone, then they miss Him. Like the Shulamite they weep, "My beloved is gone."

Young people, you can understand this feeling, can you not? When one of our dear ones is far away, then we miss him or her. We long that they will come back soon, because it is so empty without them. So it is at times in the life of God's people. They long for the Lord's communion more than anything else.

It is a great blessing when such a great God takes notice of us and visits us, but it is a greater benefit when we may be and remain humble after such a blessing. We are so inclined to become something with the benefits which we receive. When David's soul was lovingly embraced by the Lord, then he exclaimed in Psalm 30:7a, "Lord, by Thy favor Thou hast made my mountain to stand strong." But soon his experi­ence became so different: "Thou didst hide Thy face, and I was troubled" (Psalm 30:7b). For Abraham it was different. After receiving this great privilege, he fulfilled the Lord's commandment in humility and self-denial. How did this reveal itself in Abraham?

He did not reason or waver, but he obeyed God's commandment to circumcise all the males of his house. The fulfilment of God's commandment was of greater importance for him than the financial loss which would result from circumcision, since his men could not do any work for a few days. It is a privilege if we, in obedience of faith with God's help, may keep His commandments. It is the desire of God's children to follow the Lord in self-denial and daily to take up their cross. Then we may go in the footsteps of the Mediator, "Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2a).

The father of the faithful received the commandment of the Lord to circumcise all the males in his house; no one was to be excluded. Sometimes you hear questions about how these strangers might have reacted to this. Did they cooperate willingly, or were they compelled to be circumcised? For the children it was not such a problem. When they were eight days old, the sacrament was administered. But how was it with the adults? In our days, when so much is spoken about human rights and discrimination, it would be a problem. The news media would no doubt cry out very loudly about such matters. We live in a time when people have only rights, but we do not hear very much about their duties. This helps to increase the chaos in our days and causes a departure from God's Word, which results in more and more confusion. A nation that does not give heed to the Lord's voice will be disciplined, as we see in the history of Israel.

But we return to this history. How did these men react to this request of Abraham? I have found two different opinions about it. One says that Abraham reasoned with his men and convinced them of the necessity to comply with God's commandment. As a consequence of his reasoning they subjected themselves willingly to God's commandment.

Others believe that Abraham used his patriarchal authority, without giving them a choice. Although we know that the Lord has a willing people in the day of His power, we believe that Abraham required all his male servants and their children to be circumcised. Why do we think so?

First of all, we think so, because also the children were circumcised. If it were voluntary, why was it then also administered to the children? Secondly, we read that all were circumcised. Although nothing is too wonderful for the Lord, it would be a miracle if all of Abraham's servants who were bought with money or born in his house began to fear the Lord and out of love for God were made willing to comply with the commandment given to Abraham. It is very likely that they subjected themselves with their minds, because they feared the curse of the covenant. This kind of will­ingness is only hypocritical and is not pleasing to the Lord. Thirdly, circumcision was an example and symbol of the circumcision of the heart, as we saw before. When a person is born again, he is not willing, but is unwilling, and he resists the work of the Lord with all his might. Such enemies are recon­ciled with God only out of free grace. This is still the message that may be laid in the midst of the congregation. Has it ever been a blessing for our soul? By nature we do not ask for God, but He is still calling unto us that we can be restored to Him.

In conclusion, we believe Abraham acted as a patriarch and according to the authority he had over his servants. He would have spoken to them about the wonderful appearance of the Lord to him and about His commandment. These men knew that their master served the Lord, for they could see it and hear it. Although they would not have comprehended everything, they had respect for their master. Out of this reasoning it follows that all who received this sacrament came into an outward relationship with the covenant of grace. We may not suppose that all these men also received the application of it to their hearts and were saved. The apostle Paul has written about this, "More­over, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea …  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness" (1 Corinthians 10:1, 5). Another example is Nicodemus, who was circumcised, as were all the Israelites; however, the Lord told him that this was not enough to stand before the Lord. He had to be born again. This is also applicable to the servants of Abraham and to us.

We no longer administer the sacrament of circumcision in the church, because Christ has come and shed His blood. The bloody sacraments came to an end, and the Lord Jesus instituted Holy Baptism in the place of circumcision. How terrible it will be for us if we miss the application of the benefits symbolized in Holy Baptism and then have to appear before the Lord. May the Lord make us wrestlers at the throne of grace. We have said before, young friends, youth is the best time to seek the Lord. It is true that when we serve the Lord, then we cannot and do not want to do certain things anymore. Did the Lord not promise to give a hundredfold in this time and eternal life after this life? Is there anything you can compare with such a great blessing? No, then all these so-called "attractive things" of the world will testify against us!

In this history we have seen that all the males in the house of Abraham were circumcised. In the New Testament, all who live under the truth must be baptized. The ground of baptism is not election, but it is God's commandment and God's promise. Neither the grace of the parents nor the grace of the child is the reason to baptize, but they are to be baptized because they are included in the covenant of God and in His church, even though it is in an outward relationship to the covenant.

Election is hidden for us. We do not know whom the Lord has chosen, but all who are born in the church should receive the sign of the covenant. What they have objectively in Christ must be subjectively applied by the Holy Spirit in their hearts. His house must become full. All whose names are written in the Book of Life will be called by Word and Spirit, as the poet of Psalter 425 verse 5 says:

Jehovah's truth will stand forever,
His covenant bonds He will not sever;
The word of grace which He commands,
To thousand generations stands;
The covenant made in days of old
With Abraham He doth uphold.

Questions⤒🔗

1. Make a list of nations for whom circumcision was also known. Some were related to Abraham, and others were not. Indicate how they were related to him.
2. Describe the great difference there was in the meaning and purpose of circumcision of the heathens in comparison to what it was for Israel.
3. Both Abraham (Gen.17:17) and Sarah (Gen. 18:12) laughed. Explain the difference in their laughing.
4. List the sacraments in the churches of the Reformation and those of the church of Rome. Elaborate upon them.
5. Was Abraham right to circumcise all his male servants, or should he have left it up to them as to whether they were willing to undergo it or not?
6. Make a list of all the covenants which are mentioned in the Bible and give a short explanation of each of them.
7. Why do we no longer have the sacrament of circumcision but instead have Holy Baptism? What is the difference between these two sacraments, and in what way are they similar?
8. What does Holy Baptism mean for you personally?