The Heart of the Law

Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.

(Deuteronomy 10:16)

For my 10th birthday, my father gifted me a minibike. In the summer, when I did not have classes, I was free to play all day long on my birthdays. If you are unaware, a minibike is a one-speed mini-motorcycle that uses a lawn mower type engine to operate. It was a great pleasure to receive this gift, however, my father stipulated two rules for me to follow. The first rule is that I had to ride the minibike in my neighborhood only (Rockhill Circle). Secondly, I was forbidden to ride a second person on the minibike or allow someone else to drive it. I vividly remember when my father left for work I drove the new minibike around the block in my neighborhood a few times. Realizing that my best friend was unaware of my new motorized two-wheel bike, I forgot all the rules and headed to my friend’s house who lived across town in another neighborhood (Girard). Now, he too was able to enjoy the minibike as the two of us rode around his neighborhood. Knowingly that I broke all the rules on the first day, my father reminded me of how hardheaded I was, and I had to suffer the consequences of returning to a bicycle for a few days.

Similarly, God described His people as stiff-necked. Hardheaded is another term for stiff-necked like assumptive, pompous, pretentious, arrogant, or uppity of which all these terms define self-centered behaviors. This behavior focuses on pleasing oneself and refusing to follow directions from others. Scripture often uses this figure of speech when describing the Israelites as noted below:

Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.

(Exodus 33:3)

Furthermore the LORD spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:

(Deuteronomy 9:13)

Originally, stiff-necked describes an ox that refuses to follow directions from his farmer when he guides the ox with an ox goad. Typically, farmers would harness a team of oxen for plowing and direct them by pricking the oxen with sharp spikes on the heels or the neck to increase speed or turn the animal in the desired directions. The farmer described an ox that refused to follow his direction as stiff-necked. Thus, a stiff-necked animal refuses to change course resulting in limited benefits for the farmer.

The Scriptures repeatedly remind us that the Israelites need to change the direction of their lives in order to live godly instead of self-centered. Recently, I noticed on social media about a person named David Cruz who is walking from Philadelphia to Miami as a faith walk. People encounter him in certain areas, engage in conversation with him, and mainly pray with him as he undertakes his faith journey under God’s direction. I believe that people are responding positively because they are witnessing someone demonstrating selflessness by refusing to accept money, food, etc. for his journey. At least one individual informed me that she drove from Eufaula to Ozark to meet him. She asked David if she put some money in his backpack without his knowledge to assist him what will he do? David responded if you put it there, I will give it to someone. I am walking to tell people that God delivered me from some bad things in my life. Journey with David Cruz

In the verse above, Moses reminded the people of circumcision. Remember, circumcision for the Israelites was significant, baby boys were circumcised at an earlier age, as early as eight days old. Remember, Israelite’s fathers always honor this sacred ritual because it reminded them of their special relationship with God. Yet, the patriarch Moses slipped from his fatherly duty with his son, which kindle God’s wrath. This event occurred after Moses met God at the burning bush.

On the journey back, as they camped for the night, God met Moses and would have killed him but Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched Moses’ member with it. She said, “Oh! You’re a bridegroom of blood to me!” Then God let him go. She used the phrase “bridegroom of blood” because of the circumcision. Exodus 4:24‭-‬26 MSG‬‬

Circumcision signifies God's Covenant with His people. Nevertheless, God requires more than a physical representation, but a commitment from the heart. In my opinion, Zipporah realized the significance of Moses' error and was aware of the consequences of an uncircumcised son. To resolve the issue for Moses, she cut the foreskin of their son's genital while preventing Moses’ demise. Therefore, God knows the heart of everyone, and He realizes the ones who have circumcised the foreskin of their heart. So today, please consider two different arguments to define your life:

1) Whether you possess an uncircumcised heart as reflected in a stiff-necked behavior while living a selfish life.

2) Whether you possess a circumcised heart, as evidenced by an obedient outlook coupled with a selfless attitude toward others.

God wants a commitment of the Heart.