Men in the Bible: A 99-Year-Old in Great Pains, A Tale of Forbearance
So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. – Genesis 17:23-24
Today, we will look at the exemplary forbearance of Abraham, such that at the ripe age of 99, he was still able to obey a very difficult instruction of God for Abraham to circumcise himself and all the male members of his household, freeborn or slave born.
To take their relationship to the next level and make it a generational institution, God needed to enter a covenant with Abraham, and the terms of that covenant involved the circumcision of the foreskin of Abraham and every male in his household.
Now, circumcision is not a fun thing to do for anyone at any age. It is a very painful process, as it involves cutting off the flesh. While it may be a less painful experience in this age due to advancements in medicine with anesthesia, pain relievers and other instruments in place to eliminate or reduce pains, this was not the case in Abraham’s time. Circumcision must have been done with crude, sharp tools that must have been very painful for anyone who was being circumcised.
However, even with a full knowledge of the kind of pain he would be subjecting himself to being circumcised at the age of 99, Abraham still obeyed God and went ahead to circumcise not just himself but the entire men under his roof. That was a classic case of forbearance. While the experience might have been easier on the younger males in his household, imagine the kind of pain Abraham’s 99-year-old body would be like after completing his circumcision.
His body would probably be shaking in pain from the experience. Such pains are enough to kill anyone at that age. The thought of it alone should have discouraged him, but Abraham went ahead with the plan and fulfilled it to the letter, his personal pains notwithstanding.
Abraham did not use the popular parlance that “wisdom is profitable to direct” to excuse himself from being circumcised alongside other members of his household. On the contrary, he led the line and did his own circumcision, thus leading by example.
This is really worth learning from.
Selah!
Also read:
- Understanding God: The God of New Identity
- The Benefits of Wisdom: Preservation of Life
- Winds of Change
- If God Brings You To It
- God Saved Me From Bondage
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