STATEMENT OF BELIEF – ADDENDUM D
Assembly of Yahweh, Cascade, an Assembly of True Yisrael (Israel)
Addendum D - Circumcision and the Abraham Covenant/Contract:
Circumcision became a physical mark to show that one had entered the Covenant with our Almighty Sovereign Creator. "How long was this physical sign of the Covenant binding?" YHWH (Yahweh) told Abraham, "throughout the ages." In other words, circumcision is a requirement forever. It was not only required of Abraham's offspring, but also of all those who lived among Abraham and his descendants in his promised land, including slaves born in the area and those brought there from foreign lands. Anyone who was uncircumcised was "cut off from his kin" or banished as an outcast. Therefore, we see the seriousness of failing to follow this instruction from our Creator.
Again, the faith of Abraham was tested. What did Abraham do when given these instructions from his Creator? Notice: "Then Abraham took his son Ishmael, and all his home born slaves and all those he had bought, every male in Abraham's household, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins on that very day, as the Creator had spoken to him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. Thus Abraham and his son were circumcised on that very day; and all his household, his home born slaves and those that had been bought from outsiders, were circumcised with him" (Gen. 17:23-27).
The faith expressed by Abraham and his total belief that our Creator would fulfill His promises to him is what set Abraham apart from everyone else on earth, then and now. Abraham believed what our Creator said and he obeyed His voice. "...and he believed in YHWH, and He accounted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15:6).
We now go to Moses as he is given instructions from The Holy One of Yisrael (Israel) on how to observe the Passover. As we pick up the story flow in Exodus 12, YHWH (Yahweh) is about to unleash the most devastating plague yet to strike Egypt. The first born of all Egypt will die because of the refusal of Pharaoh to let the children of Yisrael (Israel) go free. Realize that this was before the law was given to Moses at Sinai by at least fifty days. Notice the warning given to Moses and Aaron concerning uncircumcised males being restricted from eating the Passover offering. Clearly, those males who are uncircumcised are not allowed to observe the Passover by eating of the Passover offering: "YHWH (Yahweh) said to Moses and Aaron: This is the law of the Passover offering: No foreigner shall eat of it. But any slave a man has bought may eat of it once he has been circumcised ...but no uncircumcised person may eat of it" (Ex. 12:43-44, 48).
Some fifty days later, YHWH (Yahweh) gave the law to Moses at Mount Sinai, making this physical sign of the Covenant official law. At this point, circumcision ceased to be simply a physical sign or token that a person had entered the covenant with The Mighty One. It was now an ordained law given by Elohim (Mighty One), the Almighty Sovereign Creator of Yisrael (Israel). It became just as binding as the Ten Commandments or any other law given. Notice the instructions given to Moses by our Creator, "When a woman at childbirth bears a male...On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised" (Lev. 12:2-3).
Conclusion: Circumcision for the males of Yisrael (Israel) is not an option, it is a commandment given by YHWH (Yahweh) and it must be observed.
Copyright October 09, 2006,
by A.O.Y., Cascade, Mount Vernon, WA 98274
http://assemblyoftrueisrael.com/
e-mail: AOYCascade@assemblyoftrueisrael.com
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