Friday, November 8, 2019

Who's the Leader? - Devotion on Genesis 17


Scripture: Genesis 17:10-11
“This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.”

Circumcision? Really, God?

Why did God choose circumcision? Why choose to make the sign of His covenant something that only males could participate in? And why make something that only the individual would see most of the time? Shouldn’t the sign have been something that was a witness to other people?

Male only: God was confirming that men are the leaders of their households. If the men are following God’s covenant, they should have enough influence over the women in their lives that they will also follow God’s covenant.

Circumcision: By choosing to mark a male’s manhood, He was showing him that just as he is the leader of his household, so God is his leader. God has so much authority over him that he can even demand this mark in the sign of his manhood.

Private: This sign was something that only the individual man would see most of the time because his relationship with God is to be a personal matter. He must follow the covenant himself, not simply as a member of a community. If he’s doing so, his life will be an example to others.

Whereas God doesn’t require circumcision under our new covenant in Christ, all of these concepts are still valid in the Christian life. Think today about how you can lead your family in this new covenant. How can you acknowledge God as being your leader? Are you following Him personally, or going along with the rest of your church community?


- - -


Find your next reading on my Devotions page!





No comments:

Post a Comment