THURSDAY, JANUARY 17
Exodus 4:24-31
Genesis 17:9-14; Colossians 2:11-12

“… Thou shalt keep my covenant
… and thy seed after thee …”

WHY INFANT BAPTISM?

What example would Moses be if he were to lead God’s people when his own son was not circumcised? And why was this so critical?

The sign of God’s covenant with Abraham was that of circumcision (Gen 17:9-14). But God’s covenant was not just with Abraham alone. This was why God commanded Abraham to circumcise his seed after him, as a token of the covenant between him and God. Subsequently in the Old Testament, all, including the Gentiles who wanted to be part of God’s covenant, were to circumcise themselves (Exod 12:48-49). In a covenant, there is a token, a symbol, or a sign and seal. Circumcision was this sign. The adults were circumcised when they believed. But the children were circumcised not because they had believed and chose to. It was the believing parents who brought them before the Lord. In doing so, by faith they claimed the familial covenantal blessings for their children. Refusing to circumcise a child was tantamount to the parents telling God that they were not interested in God’s covenant for their families, neither were they intending to bring the child up as part of God’s people, hence the serious warning in Genesis 17:14. This was how the sign and seal of God’s covenant was administered in the Old Testament. Since God’s covenant had a sign in the Old Testament, what is it in the New Testament? The answer is in Colossians 2:11-12. The bloody sign and seal of circumcision was replaced by the non-bloody sign and seal of water baptism. While claiming God’s blessing of protection and familial care, parents are taking a vow that they will be explaining the Gospel to their children, teaching them God’s Word and how to pray, to bring them to church to worship God, and to pray for their salvation. They vow to bring them up as godly seed, and themselves living a godly testimony before the child. At the same time, it must be noted that when the child grows up, he must proclaim his own faith in Christ in affirming before man in church.

THOUGHT: Can I take it lightly if God views it so seriously?
PRAYER: Father, help me to keep my covenant with Thee.