Moses, the one to whom God entrusted His law, the one who led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt--What were Moses' last words on the subject of circumcision? To find out, let's look at Deuteronomy, the book that contains his final words to the Israelites before they crossed into the Promised Land. He knew that he wouldn't be going in with them, so what did he tell them about circumcision?
Read Dt 10: 12-22.
What does Moses tell them to circumcise?
Why are they to do that?
What does this circumcision indicate?
In Deuteronomy 28, Moses sets forth the blessings and the curses. He emphasizes that if they obey God, they will receive God's blessings, and he elaborates on the blessings they will receive. If they disobey God, they will be cursed, and he specifically tells them the kinds of things that will happen to them. As chapter 30 begins, it's evident that Moses doesn't expect that they're going to escape the curses, but he offers words of hope to them. Read Dt 30: 1-6.
What does Moses tell them God will do to them when they return from the lands to which they were banished?
And what will this circumcision cause them to do?
What's the purpose of doing that?
Notice that in the whole book of Deuteronomy, these are Moses' only references to circumcision. What seems to be more important to Moses--circumcision of the flesh or the heart?
It seems to me as if the followers of Moses in Paul's day missed something . . .
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