Brit Milah!

So, I'm finally trying my hand at blogging (it's actually kind of intimidating when you think about it...pouring your heart and mind out for everyone to read, and hoping it will be entertaining enough to capture their attention) - please be gracious! First of all, I just want to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and prayers throughout the whole process of bringing Eli into this world. He is such a testimony for so many reasons - from the way God protected the pregnancy after a painful miscarriage, to an AMAZING uncomplicated, quick, and beautiful water birth the way we envisioned, to a supernaturally fast and easy recovery, to the blessing of this little baby's calm spirit. We truly believe that the Holy Spirit has been present and active since day one of Eli's life, and give God all the glory for how everything went down! Mind you, we have tough days and frustrating moments in the middle of the night, but God says,

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. -James 1:5

...and believe me, we ask! Every day!

Today was Eli's circumcision (Brit Milah literally means "the covenant of circumcision"), and even though it's commonly done throughout the United States today, I was really curious about its origins. If ya'll know me at all, that means it's time for some RESEARCH!! Coming from a Judeo-Christian background, I knew that the Old Testament describes it as a physical symbol of the covenant between God and His people. But what does that mean?? And what about the other times it talks about circumcision in the Bible?

In Genesis 17:9-11, God institutes circumcision for His people, and literally describes the cutting off of the foreskin as a token of His covenant with Abraham (to increase and bless the nation of Israel). Any male in a Jewish household was commanded to be circumcised, and this was also accompanied by a Jewish naming ceremony. One thing I found really interesting is that God specifies to wait 8 days until after a baby is born to perform the ceremony. Did you know that it takes about 8 days for a newborn's blood to start clotting appropriately? The liver requires Vitamin K to synthesize key clotting factors, but the gut isn't colonized with Vitamin K -producing bacteria until the baby is about 8 days old!! HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!? I love when science so clearly supports Biblical law! I'm such a nerd.

Later in Joshua 5:2-7, Joshua performs the circumcision rite on his people at Gilgal after God dries up the Jordan river, allowing them to cross. It's a reminder of God's PROTECTION. It's also done a second time after 40 years in the wilderness without observance (the people had been disobedient and were cut off from the land). This time it's followed by eating fruit of the land (instead of manna, which was the only thing available for 40 years), signifying God's PROVISION.

There are many accounts of circumcision in the flesh, but the Bible also discusses "circumcision of the heart," which basically means purity of the heart. Deut 10:16 commands us to circumcise the foreskins of our hearts and be no longer stiffnecked. Later God promises to circumcise the hearts of His people when He gathers them to the promised land (30:5-6), in order that they might love God with all their heart, love Him with all their soul, and in order that they might live. The term "circumcision" means so much more than a physical procedure; it implies a purity of heart that results from "putting off" superfluous and ungodly attitudes. (Romans 5:28-29, Colossians 2:11, Philippians 3:3, Galations 5:2-6, Jeremiah 6:10, Exodus 6:12)

SO! Now that we have a better concept of circumcision, Jake and I decided to have a Bris-style blessing ceremony for Eli (but much more casual) as a way to recognize and celebrate our son's identity in God's covenant. We prayed over him before and during the procedure, and my mom stepped in as the Kvatterin (an honored person, often childless, who hands the baby to the person performing the rite). It was actually amazing to watch them perform the procedure - Eli looked right into our eyes calmly (laying on the red knit blanket that his auntie JJ knit for him), and didn't even cry! We ended the day with a Seudat Mitzvah (celebratory meal), during which we recited many of the blessings from the traditional Bris ceremony. Following are some of the blessings that I, Jake, and my mom took turns praying over Eli. He's been very peaceful since his circumcision, and we attribute all of that to God's protection. What a blessed day!

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning circumcision.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to enter him into the Covenant of Abraham our father

Just as he has entered into the Covenant, so may he enter into Torah, into marriage, and into good deeds.

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, Thus shall you bless the children of Israel, say to them: "The Lord bless you and guard you. The Lord make His countenance shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn His countenance toward you and grant you peace." And they shall set My name upon the children of Israel, and I shall bless them.'"


The rest can be found at: http://www.circumcision.net/Bris_Ceremony.htm