A Verse-by-Verse Examination of Galatians: Additional Considerations
This subject has made countless men fall from the Law, and, while it was once widely accepted by the Christian community, this covenant has seemed to slip away. Is it the letters of Paul? Is it health reasons? Or do we need the faith of Abram before we can accept circumcision? Clearly, the answer is faith. If you have not finished reading the proceeding Letter, Verse-by-Verse Galatians, then please do so now.
Abram’s faith was tested many times by Yahoweh. One of the final tests was to remove the excess foreskin from his male organ. “And it came to be when Abram was ninety-nine years old, that Yahoweh appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am El Shaddai—walk before Me and be perfect.’” (Genesis 17:1, see also Matthew 5:48). “This is My covenant which you guard between Me and you, and your seed after you: Every male child among you is to be circumcised. And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall become a sign of the covenant between Me and you.” (Genesis 17:10-11).
“And Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.” (Genesis 17:24). Abraham entered into a pact of mutual faith with Elohim that will live as long as Yahoweh lives. Forever. While I was circumcised as a child, with much thought, if I were not circumcised already, I would become so. Even though I did not have to go through with the decision, I felt as though I could not write any further if I would not honestly also say, “Yes.” to Yahoweh. Am I proclaiming this because it all makes sense? No. However, in His time He reveals. (Some people think you are trying to be made perfect by the Law if you become circumcised, but they do not view themselves as being saved by the Law if the do not commit adultery. Why? Hatred of Jews, like the Messiah, and a disgust at the idea of acting like Him. I fully understand that I was saved the moment I accepted Him, and cannot merit His Salvation by being circumcised.)
Yahoweh gave us the Mitzvah to circumcise on the eighth day. If the eighth day falls on Shabbat, the bris (circumcision) is still done. An exception to the eighth day might be if the baby is quite ill or premature, and, even then, the bris should be done right away, as one should be quick to perform the Mitzvah of Yahoweh.
Why eight days? Why not a different number? Some say it is because women’s breast milk on the eighth day has more vitamin K in it than any other time. Vitamin K helps clot the blood and aids in healing. Others speculate the number eight has hidden spiritual meanings. Such as, the world was created in seven days, and the eighth day is beyond the physical world. Perhaps there is a connection to the eight special garments the Cohen (high priest) wore when serving in the Temple, yet, while this is all interesting, we certainly do not yet understand such things … even if we think we do. Why the eighth day? Why cut the foreskin? Why does this symbolize covenant? Why? Because Yahoweh said so. That is all the reason I will ever need.
Generations ago, most Christians would not think twice about having their sons circumcised. That was then. Today, many parents agonize over whether to follow the Torah, or the dispensationalists and atheists. Not having their son circumcised is becoming more common.
Medical reasons for having this operation done do exist, but to a skeptic even pneumonia isn’t anything to fret over. The penis can become red and infected if not kept clean, and, even with diligence, sometimes that is not enough. It is also easier for baby boys who are uncircumcised to develop urinary tract infections, as well as several sexually transmitted diseases. The Creator, Who commanded us not to harm ourselves, certainly would not command us to do something harmful to ourselves. While the medical world has changed its mind several times on this commandment, Yahoweh has not. Yet, did the Father give this Mitzvah for medical reasons?
Over five thousand years ago, Yahoweh told His friends to circumcise on the eighth day after birth. Home birthing has been done all through time, and the Jews have been conducting bris in the comfort and convenience of their homes this whole time. I highly recommend finding a reputable moel (a man whose profession is circumcision) or an interviewed doctor. The moel may be more experienced, more accustomed to any stress, kinder to the baby, and faster, thus causing the baby to feel little pain. Granted, many babies do not even cry, and not because of shock. Look for a moel or doctor long before the birth or adoption of your son.
Side note: In some cultures women are also circumcised, however, there is no such Mitzvah in Torah regarding women in this. The woman was created from man; hence, every woman does have a bris in the flesh from the other half of her body, wherever he may be. Female circumcision is un-Biblical, a deranged removal of much of a woman’s joy in sex, and can be deadly for her. It must not ever be done! Its practice must stop!
When you have your boy, or yourself, circumcised, I strongly urge you to avoid oral painkillers, unless a doctor competent enough to realize the benefits and harm of both natural and synthetic medicines advises the drugs. Well-known drug companies have paid out millions in legal settlements from infant deaths. Ask your moel or doctor, before you have your child, to go over what he does or what could be done. The use of local anesthetic is increasingly common, and, with proper equipment, blood should even be minimized to but a few drops. However, if there is any fear of a loss of blood, being near a hospital, or actually at your doctor’s office, is advisable. In any issues like this, I believe safe is better than quaint. I say the same thing about home birth. At least be very close (a minute away) from medical care.
Do not be surprised, though, if the moel will not perform the commandment if you are a believer in the Messiah, and never deny Him simply to have a circumcision done. Pray for him and continue searching for a moel or a doctor who will. Be sure to notify the one you find on the day of the birth.
Bris Milah (covenant of circumcision) is traditionally done as early in the morning as possible, denoting enthusiasm for the Mitzvah. This is a joyous occasion, so if at all possible have prayers, a name for the boy, song, dance, feast, and family for this event. There are no requirements for naming a child. The child’s name does not need to be Hebrew, Biblical, or even your native language for that matter. The tradition of naming the boy on the day of bris is not law, but not against law (see Luke 1:13, 59-63).
Side note: A firstborn son must be redeemed after he reaches thirty-one days of age, as commanded in Numbers 18:15-16. At present, this is about $50.00 given to a place of tithe. As for adoption, there is no formal procedure of adoption in the Jewish mindset. Civil law adoption is essentially a transfer of title from one parent to another, but in Biblical mindset, parents do not own their children. The adoptive parents are to the child as any birth parent would be. He who raises an adopted child should be regarded as if he had actually brought him into the world physically. Raising adopted children fulfills any obligation to be fruitful, for love is the fruit of the Spirit that grows all others.
“And when a stranger sojourns with you and shall perform the Passover to Yahoweh, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and perform it, and he shall be as a native of the land. But let no uncircumcised eat of it.” (Exodus 12:48). The Passover Lamb, Yahoshuah, calls all, but He does not call us to disobedience. We should be circumcised for the right reasons. Those who have been following for a while, and will do so based on love, not based on salvation, should. However, flesh is not the whole equation, nor is it the first.
Stephen told the rebellious Jews of his day, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, as your fathers did, you also do.” (Acts 7:51). Stephen was right in saying this as, “‘See, the days are coming,’ declares Yahoweh, ‘when I shall punish all circumcised with the uncircumcised—Mitsrayim, and Yehudah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Mo’ab, and all those trimmed on the edges, who dwell in the wilderness. For all the gentiles are uncircumcised, and all the house of Yisra’el are uncircumcised in heart!’” (Jeremiah 9:25-26).
“To whom shall I speak and give warning, so that they hear? See, their ear is uncircumcised, and they are unable to listen. See, the word of Yahoweh is a reproach to them, they do not delight in it.” (Jeremiah 6:10). “Thus said the Master Yahoweh, ‘No son of a foreigner, uncircumcised in heart or uncircumcised in flesh, comes into My set-apart place, even any son of a foreigner who is among the children of Yisra’el.’” (Ezekiel 44:9, also see Isaiah 52:1). To do this call up your local doctor today and make an appointment for open-heart surgery. I suggest you find a very good doctor and make the appointment right away. After all, without a circumcised heart you cannot enter Yahoweh’s sanctuary. May I recommend a Doctor? I don’t get kickbacks, as He doesn’t charge. He is known the world over as the Healer Yahoweh. I pray you will you accept Him, for it is by His indewlt Spirit alone that can circumcise the heart, and, according to the verse above, those without a circumcised heart do not delight in His Torah. Search our heart, O Yahoweh.
“So, if an uncircumcised one watches over the righteousnesses of the Torah, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned as circumcision? And the uncircumcised by nature, who perfects the Torah, shall judge you who notwithstanding letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the Torah! For he is not a Yehudite who is so outwardly, neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.” (Romans 2:26-28).
“What then is the advantage of the Yehudite, or what is the value of the circumcision? Much in every way! Because firstly indeed, that they were entrusted with the Words of Elohim. For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief nullify the trustworthiness of Elohim? Let it not be! But let Elohim be true, and every man a liar, as it has been written, ‘That You should be declared right in Your words, and prevail in Your judging.’” (Romans 3:1-4). Much in every way!
“Is this blessing then upon the circumcised only, or also upon the uncircumcised? For we affirm: Belief was reckoned unto Abraham for righteousness. How then was it reckoned? Being in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the belief while in uncircumcision, for him to be a father of all those believing through uncircumcision, for righteousness to be reckoned to them also,” (Romans 4:9-11).
The people Paul was speaking to did not understand faith it seems, and so I, too, would also say to not get circumcised just yet. They were still babies in their faith, true eight day old babies are to be circumcised, but it was going to take a long time for these men to become as spiritually mature as babies. They had adopted all sorts of sins that infants cannot possibly partake in (and if they are raised in a good Jewish home, they most likely never will).
Now some have said, “Boys were made that way.” While others have said, “There is no point to cause pain.” Yet, still more say, “My boys can do it later if they want or need to, but once it’s done it’s irreversible.” Nevertheless, Yahoweh still says, “And on the eighth day the flesh of his
foreskin is circumcised.” (Leviticus 12:3, see also Genesis 17:12-14, 23). A baby is closer to Yahoweh than we can even imagine. Concerning the covenant of the eighth day: The child may not be able to verbally voice his thoughts, but I think he would accept the same thing our Messiah accepted. I don’t understand all the spiritual reasons or health reasons for circumcision, I just understand that Yahoweh wants us to do so once our heart is circumcised like that of an infant’s. Will you accept this? If not, first seek to cut the heart and ears.
“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Set-apart Spirit, as your fathers did, you also do.” (Acts 7:51).
Circumcision of the heart sometimes takes an entire lifetime. Allow Him to calm your heart. What is circumcision of the heart? It is the cutting away of the wall around your heart so that obedience to the walk of the Messiah’s way may be felt. In the flesh, we cut the foreskin off from around what looks like the heart. The inmost parts, in the reassess that only Yahoweh can cut, is the heart, which, like our flesh, has a barrier around it. A wall of which does not allow light in, and its true emotion is rarely revealed. Allow Yahoweh to cut down this alleged protective barrier that only brings sickness and false pride. Allow Him to be the Guard for your heart. The cut is worth it.
There is the matter of the ears being circumcised. The barrier of wax must be metaphorically removed (and perhaps actually removed as well, eh) so we may hear His Word. Without ears, our heart will not hear clearly, without our heart feeling His True Word, then no flesh can be strong or courageous. This is the reason men fight His Word. Remember this.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, nor be discouraged, for Yahoweh your Elohim is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9).
Shalom
Be Blessed and be a Blessing
Shalom
-Valentine Thalken Billingsley
If this blessed you, please share it.
Additional Scripture References:
Genesis 15:7-18, 17:1-14, Exodus 4:25, Leviticus 19:23, Jeremiah 34:17-20, Exodus 4:25, Jeremiah 9:24-25, Deuteronomy 10:16, Jeremiah 4:4, Romans 2:28-29, Deuteronomy 30:6, Jeremiah 31:33, 32:39, Ezekiel 36:26-27, Joshua 5:7-10, Deuteronomy 15:11, Exodus 4:24-26, Leviticus 26:41-42, 1 Maccabees 1:15.