Passover Tidbit No. 9

Passover and Circumcision

Passover is a great time to remember (za-car' זכר  - to act on what you know is true) all Y'shua (from y'sha - salvation) has done for us, is doing for us, and will do for us. Pesach provides yet another physical example of our need for the blood of the spotless lamb to cover us, how Y’shua was raised on the Feast of First Fruits, as our first fruits, and how only through these two acts of Elohiym will He lead His people out of the darkness of Egypt (the world's wisdom) to the promised land of YHVH.

One of the most compelling and beautiful things about the TaNaKh are these many pictures of Yahauh's loving Hand on each of those willing to come under the protection and promise of YHVH.  The imagery is unmistakable and constant, and the Second Testament writers illuminate all of these pictures in their writings as they lived for Him in a fallen world, examples for each of us, everyday.

Somehow though, we can manage to lose much of the beauty and truth of all YHVH does and says by looking at these pictures though man's eyes.  By that I mean we often fail to look past the words, to the ideas and images, to the heart of the matter, you might say.  We cross-reference YHVH's D'var  דנר(words) with the world's wisdom and come to a place of missed blessing. 

Most of the Christian church today gives little importance to the Feasts any more.  The church has changed the days, the times, and the reasons for the Feasts.  Most Christians can confuse Santa and Christmas with “Jesus”, and Easter bunnies and a great brunch, with the Cross.  When the feasts are mentioned, it is in usually in passing, more like a footnote, than the gift from our Father that they are.  The feasts are the seven times each year YHVH Himself ordained a meeting with His people and offered tickets to the hottest show ever, but we often let it pass by.  We have different traditions now.  We have watered down the Feasts, and the meanings and pictures of them, to the point where Yahuah must be shaking His head.

Many of the Yehudiym (Jews) still hold tightly to the feasts, but for most they tend to go through all the motions, make all the appointments, and often miss the heart and promise of the actual events celebrated at the Feasts.  Some Messianic and Hebrew roots group’s follow every detail right down to the point of proving the celebrant is physically circumcised before they can participate.  While this is a requirement of YHVH found in Shemoth 12, but by adding man’s wisdom they have missed the point.   The celebrant does in fact need to be circumcised … of the heart. One needs to believe, obey, and follow YHVH to celebrate with Him, and demanding a worldly physical proof can remove much of the joy and freedom the believer experiences at the Feasts. 

It is a good thing YHVH loves us, because few of us seem to be able to put our arms around the Feasts, and the promises they hold.  The Scriptures command any believer or follower of YHVH to remember the feasts; to celebrate the feasts o’lawm   עלמor forever. Scripture commands that we as believers hold these celebrations on a particular day, and in a particular place, with particular people.  Each of the Feasts brings with it a series of instructions to help the celebrant fully enjoy the time, clarify the picture, and to draw closer to both their brothers and sisters in Yahuah, and most importantly, to the Creator Himself. 

I might suggest, remind us really, as the Scriptures already tell us this, that the Feasts are a gift, a blessing.  They are to bring joy and to bring us close to God.  How they came to be forgotten entirely, or have become some legalistic way to prove one group is "holier" than another, is something of a sad mystery to  me. 

Most of us know the word, poorly translated, as "law" in English is the Hebrew word to-rah'   תרח and it really means, "the direction we take in life".  It is from the Hebrew word yaw-raw'  ירחor to hit the mark.  If the direction we are talking in life leads us to the feasts, and to a deeper understanding of His instructions, we do well. You may not be as familiar with the Hebrew word translated, as "circumcision" which is "moo-law מולח . The literal meaning is the "conglomeration of words that form a sentence or idea". But it is also used to describe the kernels of corn on the ear.  You get it, many kernels make up one complete ear.

I like the idea of the ear of corn.  Many of the kernels are more or less similar; but all varying is size, color, and shape.  At both ends are smaller, larger, misshapen, incorrectly colored and damaged kernels.  Some corncobs have many, many, different colors of kernels; others have a great variety of size.  But all ears of corn have one thing in common; if they are missing most of the kernels, it is generally tossed away.  In the same way I think, when the body at large misses out on the blessing of the feasts. It is something like an ear of corn without many of the kernels.  It is the picture of not being circumcised, not following after Yahuah.  There are too few kernels to cause anyone to take it seriously, it is not strong, it is not pretty, it is not very nutritious, or filling, it is not desirable.

Do you need to be circumcised to celebrate the Feast?  Sure you do, the Scriptures are clear Passover is only for the circumcised, but we already knew that from reading Exodus chapter 12, only those covered with the blood (or circumcised of the heart) will be saved.  Being covered by the blood, or being circumcised of the heart, as the word To-rah' indicates, is proof we are on the path that leads to YHVH and salvation, our direction is good, yaw-raw' as they would say.  In fact, if you are not on that path yet, Scriptures indicates you would be better off not celebrating the Feasts.

Passover and circumcision are both symbols.  No one is saved or lost because they did, or did not, celebrate the feasts.  No one is saved or lost because they are, or are not, physically circumcised. YHVH looks at the heart, more than the actions.  That being said though, a heart for Him will want to be circumcised and will want to follow His instructions.  Anytime we follow and trust YHVH, He will send blessings. Following Yahuah might include physical circumcision, it might include participating in the feasts, or being water baptized, or by serving our fellow travelers, or living as salt and light, or ten thousand other things.  Do it often enough and it will become a habit, and every once and a while I'll bet you will actually see His face smiling on you.

This Pesach, I plan once again on just enjoying the time with YHVH and His people, remembering the things He did, and the promises He made, without all the man-made issues, legalism, or problems. I believe that by so doing, I and those with me, will honor YHVH by obeying His requests, enjoying His companionship, and learning more about Him. He will bless us in accordance with His practice and promise.  I hope you too can enjoy celebrating the most important of YHVH’s Feasts this year.

CB