Abraham the First Jew

"This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you." — Genesis 17:10–11

Did you know that circumcision was the first commandment given by God to Abraham, the first Jew? In establishing the covenant with Abraham, God, for His part, promised to make Abraham into a “mighty nation.” Abraham not only would be the father of one nation, but a “multitude of nations.” God would give Abraham millions of descendants. (See Genesis 17:1–6.)

For his part, Abraham was required to follow the terms of the covenant, which included circumcision. So at age 99, Abraham was circumcised, and all males in his household were circumcised as well. It is a sign of the covenan.

* You know what? I'm feeling better about my pains at child birth now!