January 28, 2914 A Sign of Hope

A Sign of Hope

Genesis 17

Gen 17:10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.

I was watching a movie last week (It takes me a long time to watch a 2-hour movie—about 40 minutes a night. Thank you DVR.) Anyway, it was called Star of the North and its story was in regard to a Ukrainian village in June of 1941. The movie opens over a peaceful village that lives in great joy. The farms are fertile. The kids are joyful, mannerly and smart. The homes are well-kept. Young couples are in love and making grand plans for their future. Much is made of singing and dancing. About 40 minutes or so into the movie, though, everything changed. The Germans attacked Russia. Bombs fell and the village was strafed. People died. Homes burned. Germans occupied the city. One day all was well. The next day all was a living hell.

      Life is so much that way, isn’t it? Disease, crime, accidents or financial ruin can pop up at any moment. Struggles can seem overwhelming.

      But what we see here in Abram’s story today is that as quickly as things can go badly, God steps in to give us his words of hope.

      And so he spoke to Abram, who received two signs—new names for him and Sarai, and the sign of circumcision. Circumcision is a blood-letting. It cuts the flesh. And it’s a lifetime mark. Circumcision pointed to God’s promise of blessing that would one day lead Jesus to pour out his blood on a cross.

      The changes in our lives can be heart-rending and even life-ending. But we must know the cross is God’s unending sign of hope.

LIFE Link: God has marked his Son for you.