In Genesis chapter 17, God confirmed his covenant with Abraham by giving him the rite of circumcision, that is, brit milah (בְּרִית מִילָּה), a term that literally means “covenant (i.e., brit: בְּרִית) of the word” (i.e., milah: מִלָה). It is important to note that the rite of circumcision never was intended to effect the promise of God but only to attest to it. Circumcision served as sign or token of faith in the word of the LORD, that is, in God’s loving promise. We see the connection by noting that the word “covenant” (i.e., brit: בְּרִית) appears exactly 13 times during this dramatic episode (i.e., Gen. 17:1-22), which is the same numeric value as the Hebrew word for love (i.e., ahavah: אַהֲבָה). Further note that the last occurrence of the word “covenant” in this section concerns God’s exclusive choice of Isaac, Abraham’s only true heir, the promised child who was chosen to be the “sacrificed seed” (see Gen. 17:21). Indeed the very first time the word “love” appears in the Scriptures occurs when God asks Abraham to take his son, his “beloved” son, and to offer him as a whole burnt offering (Gen. 22:2), a clear picture of the sacrificial message of Yeshua the Messiah:…
“Please take your son… קַח־נָא אֶת־בִּנְךָ
your only son… אֶת־יְחִידְךָ
the one whom you love… אֲשֶׁר־אָהַבְתָּ
even Isaac… אֶת־יִצְחָק
and go to the land of Moriah
and offer him as a burnt offering.”
and offer him as a burnt offering.”
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