God appears to Abram, renews his promise, changes his and Sarai’s names. God then tells Abram to circumcise all males in his family. He then tells him that he will have his son through Sarai in the following year and that his blessing will be fulfilled through his son Issac – and Abram laughs.
Circumcision - lots of controversy today about it – is it healthy, is it safe, is it necessary, does it traumatize the child. Jews still do it, many, perhaps most Westerners do it, Muslims do it from age 8 days old to 13 years old. Frankly I don’t know. Glad my mom did it to me. I certainly don’t remember the pain if there was any. Some say that sexual stimulation is lessened if one is circumcised. Others say it is useful for preventing certain infections. But for the Jews it was a sign required to participate in the covenant.
Some folks believe there is a similarity between circumcision and baptism. I see more differences than commonalities.
Abraham immediately carries out his circumcision responsibilities, even to himself which must have been VERY painful at his age. I know someone who had it done in his late thirties and he said it was the most painful thing he had experienced in his life , and he has had a great familiarity with pain.
Sometimes following God requires enduring a certain amount of distress, discomfort, unhappiness and maybe a level of torment. Life is not easy without God. But He doesn’t promise us easy street with Him. We just have to take the long view.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13