Circumcision and Abraham's Family

Galatians 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

Let's take a moment today to learn a little about the history of circumcision to help us see how it fit into the life of a Jewish person, why it was important, so important that Paul's ministry was constantly threatened by those who saw circumcision as necessary for salvation.

The earliest archaeological evidence of circumcision goes back to ancient Egypt and dates between 2345 and 2181 BC. On my biblical timeline Abraham is placed between 2000 and 1900 BC, so circumcision predates Abraham. Tomb artwork depicts circumcision in ancient Eygpt as being a rite of passage from childhood to manhood, a time when a child became a full citizen, with all the rights and privileges.

In the Bible, circumcision is first mentioned in Genesis 17. Read verses 10-14.
What is mentioned in the same verse where God commands that every male among Abraham's people shall be circumcised?
Where does God command that they are to be circumcised?
And what does God say circumcision is a sign of?
At what age are they to be circumcised?
For how long in their future are they to be circumcised?
Who else is supposed to be circumcised?
What kind of a covenant is this that is in the flesh?
What does God say about the person who is not circumcised?
What should happen to him? Why?
Read Genesis 17:23-27.
So, what did Abraham do?
Who was circumcised?

We'll continue with a bit more of the historical background of circumcision tomorrow.
Does what you read today help you to better understand why there were people in Paul's day who thought that circumcision shouldn't be left out?