In what ways do we “blend in” with our wider culture, and in what ways do we set ourselves apart? Such questions are increasingly appropriate for us as Christians in a pluralistic world. They were also highly relevant for the ancient Israelites who found themselves forcibly removed from their homes and settled, at least temporarily, in Babylon. Scholars think this chapter, with its emphasis on the mark of circumcision, likely became "scripture" in light of this disorienting experience.
But the answer, it turns out, is a bit more complex than we might expect. On the one hand, this story of covenant has God designating circumcision as a physical reminder of the Israelites’ durable relationship with God. That is, just because their meantime reality might offer evidence to the contrary, God’s promises for a people and their land remain intact. Circumcision reminds them to take the long view, to fall into hope when despair might be beckoning.
The complexity, though, comes from the claim that it’s Abraham and his offspring—including Ishmael—who bear the marks of that covenant. True, this reading shows favoritism toward the yet-to-be-conceived Isaac (the father of Israel). Yet even this decidedly Israelite narrative includes God’s blessing on Ishmael, who will be father of a "great nation" (17:20). Not only does the text invite the Israelites to take the long view of their own story, but it also subtly nudges them to take an expansive view of God’s purposes.
I wonder how we might make room for this same complexity as we both identify ourselves with God’s promises and open ourselves to God’s inclusive claim on our world. What are our distinguishing marks of covenant—the things that remind us who and whose we are? How do they become for us not barriers but bridges to our wider human community?
- What are your most important identity markers?
- What might it mean to take the “long view” or the “broad view” of God’s work in your life? In the life of your community?
- What other details did you notice in today’s reading?
Prayer: Oh God, you invite us to walk with you each day, but we often prefer our religion on the side, thanks very much. Remind us of your dream not just for us but for your precious world. Help us be part of its unfolding. Amen.
Breath Prayer: Walk // with me.
