Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 17:23-26.

 

“²³ Then Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all the servants who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the very same day, as God had said to him.  ²⁴ Now Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.  ²⁵ And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.  ²⁶ In the very same day Abraham was circumcised, and Ishmael his son.  ²⁷ All the men of his household, who were born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.”  Genesis 17:23-26.

 

———————-

 

Abraham had faith before his circumcision.  We read about Abraham’s faith much earlier:  “Then he believed in the Lord;  and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”  Genesis 15:6.  

 

Today’s Scripture also shows Abraham’s faith again in response to the command of God in Genesis 17:9-14.   Abraham arranged for all of the men of his household to be circumcised.  Verse 27.  Moreover, Abraham did not just require others to be circumcised;  Abraham submitted himself to circumcision at the same time.  Verse 24.  Abraham could have excused himself as the patriarch (absolute and unquestioned leader of his family) and his old age, but Abraham had faith in God’s promises and command evidenced by his submission to the excruciating pain of circumcision at his age of 99. 

 

All of this shows Abraham’s faith before his circumcision.  The importance of this point is that Abraham is also the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them.  

 

“⁷ “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven,
And whose sins have been covered.
⁸ “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”

 

⁹ Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also?  For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.”  ¹⁰ How then was it credited?  While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised?  Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;  ¹¹ and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, ¹² and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.”  Romans 4:7-12.

 

“For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.  For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;  for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.”  Romans 4:13-15.