Circumcision

[Natt]

Thank you OC

[Guest]

If I would have been Abraham, and God would have told me that the sign of the covenant was going to be circumcision, my first throught would have been, "How come Noah got a rainbow?"

That's great!

Sometimes you just have to wonder............................

[LisabethforChrist]

Why did God instruct Jewish boys to be circumcised?

It was a sign of the covenant between His people and God a sign of seperation unto God.

OC

Yes, and this was of the natural, the outward covenant.

The spiritual aspect was a circumcision of the heart, that our heart was changed to be a heart toward God as in

Romans 2:29

But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Blessings,

LisabethforChrist

[Guest Ger_Tzedek]

The only thing I would add to this thread is this: that for a gentile to become a part of Israel, it takes more than circumcision and voluntarily taking up the covenant. Israel has to agree to accept that gentile. It is essentially an adoption into the People. I can't go to my neighbor next door and say, "Hey, I've decided to be a part of your family. I like how you do things. I'm changing my name on my SS card and license, and I'll be moving in next week." In the same respect, an individual male can't just decide to become a Jew, get circumcised, take a dip in a self-styled mikveh, and start performing mitzvot. He HAS to be accepted by the Beit Din, the Jewish Court.

But yes, ritual circumcision is an absolutely necessary part of this adoption process. In fact, if he is already circumcised, a ritual drawing of a drop of blood is still performed.