Favor and Holiness

“Circumcision”

The Plan of God Mankind is created for: (Gen. 1:26)

Companion-created in His image Dominion-over all the earth; filling the earth

Westminster catechism: “The chief end of man is to worship God and

enjoy Him forever” Dominion:

Over the earth Over all creatures Over Satan

The Plan of God God’s Nation is created for: (Gen. 12:1-3) The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country,

your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

1. "I will make you into a great nation and 2. I will bless you; 3. I will make your name great, and 4. you will be a blessing. [3] 5. I will bless those who bless you, 6. and whoever curses you I will curse; 7. and all peoples on earth will be blessed

through you."

I will make you into a great nation Nation: “A group of people distinguished by

uniqueness in habits, manners and customs” (Ampl.) What makes it great?

Exodus 19:5-6 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."

God’s chief character is holiness (Isa. 6:3, Rev. 4:8) - He is building His nation to be displayed to all the earth.

Distinction: circumcision Genesis 17:1-6 (NIV) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the

Lord appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. [2] I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers." [3] Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, [4] "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. [5] No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. [6] I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.

Distinction: circumcision Genesis 17:7-10 (NIV) I will establish my covenant as an

everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. [8] The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God." [9] Then God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. [10] This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.

Distinction: circumcision Genesis 17:11-14 (NIV) You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the

covenant between me and you. [12] For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner--those who are not your offspring. [13] Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. [14] Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant."

The Reproach of Egypt Joshua 5:1-5 (NIV) Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the

Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until we had crossed over, their hearts melted and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites. [2] At that time the Lord said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again." [3] So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. [4] Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt--all the men of military age--died in the desert on the way after leaving Egypt. [5] All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the desert during the journey from Egypt had not.

The Reproach of Egypt Joshua 5:6-8 (NIV) The Israelites had moved about in the desert

forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land that he had solemnly promised their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. [7] So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. [8] And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.

The Reproach of Egypt Joshua 5:9-12 (NIV) Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have

rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." So the place has been called Gilgal to this day. [10] On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. [11] The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. [12] The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan.

Leadership in Crisis Exodus 5:17-22 (NKJV) But he said, "You are idle! Idle! Therefore

you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.' [18] Therefore go now and work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the quota of bricks." [19] And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble after it was said, "You shall not reduce any bricks from your daily quota." [20] Then, as they came out from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron who stood there to meet them. [21] And they said to them, "Let the Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us." [22] So Moses returned to the Lord and said, "Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me?

Leadership in Crisis Exodus 15:22-25 (NIV) Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea

and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. [23] When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) [24] So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?" [25] Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

Leadership in Crisis Exodus 17:1-4 (NIV) The whole Israelite community set out from

the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. [2] So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?" [3] But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?" [4] Then Moses cried out to the Lord, "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me."

Leadership in Crisis Numbers 14:1-7 (NIV) That night all the people of the community

raised their voices and wept aloud. [2] All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! [3] Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" [4] And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt." [5] Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. [6] Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes [7] and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.

Leadership in Crisis Numbers 14:8-11 (NIV) If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead

us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. [9] Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them." [10] But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites. [11] The Lord said to Moses, "How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?

Leadership in Crisis Numbers 16:39-49 (NIV) So Eleazar the priest collected the bronze

censers brought by those who had been burned up, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, [40] as the Lord directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the Lord, or he would become like Korah and his followers. [41] The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. "You have killed the Lord's people," they said. [42] But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the Tent of Meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared. [43] Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the Tent of Meeting, [44] and the Lord said to Moses, [45] "Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once." And they fell facedown.

Leadership in Crisis Numbers 20:2-6 (NIV) Now there was no water for the community,

and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. [3] They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! [4] Why did you bring the Lord's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? [5] Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!" [6] Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them.

Leadership in Crisis Numbers 21:4-7 (NIV) They traveled from Mount Hor along the

route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; [5] they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" [6] Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. [7] The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people.

Moses: What a Great Guy??!!

Leadership in Crisis Exodus 4:24-26 (NIV) At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met

Moses and was about to kill him.

What a Poor Guy!?!

Leadership in Crisis WHY??? Exodus 4:24-26 (NIV) At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met

Moses and was about to kill him. [25] But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it. "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me," she said. [26] So the Lord let him alone. (At that time she said "bridegroom of blood," referring to circumcision.)

Moses did not circumcise his son, or the entire people, contrary to God’s covenant in Genesis 17!

Circumcision of the Heart Romans 2:25-29 (NIV) Circumcision has value if you observe the

law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. [26] If those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? [27] The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. [28] A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. [29] No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

Circumcision of the Heart Col. 2:11-12 (NIV) In him you were also circumcised,

in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, [12] having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

God’s covenant must be evident physically! God’s discipline can get very physical!

Discipline in the Church 1 Tim. 5:20 (NIV) Those who sin are to be rebuked

publicly, so that the others may take warning. 1 Cor. 5:3-5 (NKJV) For I indeed, as absent in body

but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. [4] In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, [5] deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Discipline in the Church 1 Cor. 5:13 (NIV) God will judge those outside. "Expel the

wicked man from among you." 1 Tim. 1:20 (NKJV) …of whom are Hymenaeus and

Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

What kind of pastor delivers a congregation to Satan? People love the “Moses” kind of pastor, one that doesn’t

discipline (circumcise); but he will not be able to bring the people in to the promised land (maybe out of Egypt only).

We start with grace but must continue with discipline!