God’s Secret Sign.

There have always been secret signs, codes that allow you to trust a stranger. George Washington used a small band of trusted spies to fight the British, and he was known among them by a number “711.” Spies today often employ a series of passwords to vet each other. You’ve seen the scenes in movies—two meet on the street:

“The moles snuck into the garden last night.”

“What was the gardener’s response?”

“He said to send the exterminator.”

“May God have mercy on us all.”

After this exchange of unique dialogue, the two know they can trust each other, right?

God initiated a seemingly bizarre “password” in Genesis 17: circumcision. Everything about it seems weird at first. It requires surgery, blood, pain, healing. It’s permanent—and most of all, it’s in a vulnerable and most-personal location. Think about it—if it weren’t in the Bible, it would sound like something invented to mock God—it would be a dirty joke and we would hide the story from children. 

But it is in the Bible. And here’s why: surgery, blood, pain, healing—it’s permanent—and most of all, it’s in a vulnerable and most-personal location. 

By placing the mark of His covenant where He did, God ensures that virtually NO ONE will fake it. After all, it is in the MOST intimate location. If anything is done to surgically alter the appearance, a man is mortified with embarrassment. And it hurts for days. This is the ultimate sign of the tribe. Forget Indian War paint or Polynesian tattoos, or facial scarification (signs of tribe or clan), or stretched necks and lips and earlobes on various indigenous peoples. Those things are bush league compared to carving the genitalia. 

With circumcision, God initiated the ultimate password, secret code, gang sign, or membership card. His followers would be forever identified as children of the covenant, believers who have “cut away” the old, worldly life of sin and walk by faith. 

MORE IMPORTANTLY, CIRCUMCISION IS AN OUTWARD SIGN OF A HEART THAT UNDERSTANDS IT IS GOD WHO SHARED HIS CREATIVE POWERS WITH US: IT IS GOD WHO GIVES A MAN THE POWER TO FATHER CHILDREN. 

We are encouraged to “circumcise our hearts” in Deuteronomy chapters 10, 30, and Jer.4. Cut the worldliness out of your life. Reduce your intake of media—all media—and increase your intake of God’s word.

ΑΩ