Thirteen years after the dramatic tension (or should I say “tensive drama”?) in Abram’s home, we are now in another significant point of his life. Really, 13 years of “silence” from God might have been worrisome for Abram. In this chapter, God appears to Abram and He picked it up from where they stopped with a refresher on the previously enacted covenant.
1. RECEIVING GOD’S COVENANT
Gen. 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
There are four things to note in Abram’s encounter with God here:
A. The Revelation: “the Lord appeared to Abram”
God’s appearance here is Theophany (explained in Review of Genesis 11).
B. The Commission: “walk before me”
After introducing Himself to Abram, He gave his charge: “walk before me”! As believers, we walk in God (Col. 2:6) and walk with God (Gen. 5:22), and these empower us to walk before God (Gen. 17:1) and walk after God (Deut. 13:4).
This commission definitely impacts the believer’s life and character. It produces fruits of righteousness. It guarantees a Christian testimony that is above reproach.
C. The Submission: “and Abram fell on his face…”
Abram’s response was that of awe and worship. Bowing down is a posture of total surrender. Knowing how frail, easily-tempted, fearful he can be, Abram submitted his weaknesses at the feet of God.
D. The Transformation:
Gen. 17:4-5 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
This is a defining moment in the life of Abram. God changed his name from Abram (“the exalted”) to Abraham (“the fruitful”). The “father of none” is now made a “father of multitudes”.
God also renamed “Sarai” to “Sarah”. From “my princess” to “mother of nations”. From “daughter of a king” to “mother of kings”.
God then went on to rehash the promises of His covenant to Abraham. Many descendants. Ownership of the land of Canaan. Everlasting nature of the covenant.
2. ENGRAVING THE COVENANT
Gen. 17:10-11 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
This is the first time God would require Abraham to do something in relation to His covenant — circumcision.
A. Its Implication
Circumcision is a “sign” of the covenant, not the substance of the covenant. Think of it this way: Elder ‘Gbenga Onifade buys a piece of land, completes all legal requirements for its acquisition. He then gifts Deacon Immanuel Adebisi the land, as an act of grace. Deacon Immanuel has done nothing to achieve this. But as a sign of this graciousness, Deacon Immanuel engraves the corner pieces with his name. The engravement does not institute the generosity, it only indicates the generosity.
As a sign, circumcision can be compared to a wedding ring that symbolizes marital commitment. In the new covenant, water baptism symbolizes our new birth — it is not required for new birth.
B. Its Implementation
Circumcision must be carried out on “males” only — females are exempted. And this rite must be done on the eight day after birth. In fact, it extended to slaves/servants in Abraham’s house, as long as they’re male.
C. Its Imprecation
Gen. 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
Any male who refused to be circumcised has rejected the sign of the covenant. Although circumcision was not what brought Abram (or others) into the covenant of God (grace + faith did), rejecting circumcision is rejecting the covenant it represents.
Sadly, the Jews over time began to trust in the sign of the covenant (circumcision) than in the God of the covenant. They believed that circumcision by itself was sufficient and necessary to save. That is the error that Paul corrected in his epistle to the Galatians.
3. RESPONDING TO THE COVENANT
Gen. 17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
After God renamed Sarai to Sarah and declared that she would bear Abraham a son, we see Abraham’s response of awe and worship. “He fell upon his face”!
And then, “he laughed…” Hmmmmn… Was this laughter one of joy or sarcasm? If you focus on his bowing in worship, you’ll conclude that it was a joy. If you focus on what he said in his heart, you’ll conclude that it was sarcasm.
I will focus on the fact that: “God did not rebuke Abraham!” (He “rebuked” Sarah when she laughed — we’ll read Gen. 18 tomorrow). Also, Paul’s commentary on this event concluded that Abraham believed God’s promise (Rom. 4:17-21).
Grace does not focus on our staggering but on our believing.
It is interesting to note Abraham’s use of logic here. You will notice:
- The Permutation of the Issue
Abraham knew both he and Sarah were well past the age of childbearing. Using his knowledge of permutation and combination (plus probability), he realized the natural impossibility of child bearing. - The Petition for Ishmael
Gen. 17:18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
Abraham’s actual petition here was that Ishmael should be the seed through whom the Redeemer would come. He was not merely praying Ishmael’s physical life, but that he would be the spiritual seed of grace.
But, no. God wasn’t having that. By flesh, shall no man prevail. Ishmael was a product of flesh, not grace.
Read in other translations…
CEB: To God Abraham said, “If only you would accept Ishmael!” But God said, “No, your wife Sarah will give birth to a son for you, and you will name him Isaac. I will set up my covenant with him and with his descendants after him as an enduring covenant.
GNT: He asked God, “Why not let Ishmael be my heir?” But God said, “No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son and you will name him Isaac. I will keep my covenant with him and with his descendants forever. It is an everlasting covenant.
NCV: Then Abraham said to God, “Please let Ishmael be the son you promised.” God said, “No, Sarah your wife will have a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will make my agreement with him to be an agreement that continues forever with all his descendants.
- The Provision for Ishmael
Gen. 17:20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
Although Ishmael wasn’t the son of covenant, God heard the cry of his loving father. “I have blessed him…” indicates that God wouldn’t abandon Abraham in his mess.
Abraham and Sarah got new names, Isaac got his name, but Ishmael did not get a new name. Don’t focus on the flesh for help. Stay with grace. And keep praying for God’s grace to override your flesh.
Do you have any “Ishmael” in your life? Give “it” up to God. It may have brought you pain in the past, but give it up to God. Let God handle it. His grace will flourish you and silence the mess of your Ishmael.
Grace to you, Church!
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