V.1-9 Now sharp knives had to be used on themselves. It was painful, but very necessary if they were to really get the promised land (Gen. 17:1-11). This was the other part of the meaning of “Gilgal” to them. The Egyptians were not circumcised. God wanted His people to be a separated people. Circumcision is a picture of separation from the flesh and the world. God wants them to be cut off from any connection with Egypt. Have we Christians personally learned what the Apostle Paul said of himself in Romans 7:18? Unbelievers have self (“I”) as their only center. Christians are to have Christ as the Center of their lives. Their entrance into the land was to pass over Jordan, a picture of our spiritual death with Christ. Secondly, circumcision is a picture of death to the flesh. These two pictures are the foundation truth of our entering into the fuller enjoyment and understanding of our present position in Christ. (Read Eph. 2:13-22).