Chapter 17.
The Conditions of the Covenant

BROKEN FELLOWSHIP—17:1

For thirteen years God has been silent with Abram. Thirteen is the number of unbelief, rebellion, apostasy, and spiritual barrenness. Was God testing him? Was God silent because Abram got ahead of God and took matters into his own hands? This is possible since the Lord tells him to walk before Him and be perfect. God reminds him that He is the Almighty God and He is able to perform what He has promised. Abram was ninety-nine, yet, God was still working in his life. God is not finished with us no matter what our age. Do you believe this? If you have strayed from the Lord and your fellowship has been broken with Him because of sin, He is still waiting and ready to restore you and use you if you are willing.

The Almighty God

The title "Almighty God" appears for the first time in the Scriptures in this verse. In the Hebrew language, it is the word El Shaddai. The word El is the singular form of Elohim. It is a masculine Hebrew noun that emphasizes the might of God. It was the most commonly used word for God in the ancient Near East. El was the name of the chief Canaanite god.

The word for "Almighty" is Shaddai. This word means "powerful one, mighty one, sufficient, or the one who satisfies". Shaddai is derived from a Hebrew word shadad which means to be burly, powerful or to ravage. Shadad is like the mauling action of a wolf (Jer. 5:6). Some scholars feel it is derived from the word shadd referring to the breast of a nursing mother. The picture is that the Lord is our satisfier and that He is all we need. He is our encourager and giver of strength. He is the allsufficient, powerful one. This is the relationship that every believer can have with the Lord Jesus Christ. God can supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. He can satisfy every longing in our empty heart. In the Greek Septuagint which is the Old Testament in the Greek language, the idea is the same. The word for "Almighty" is the word pantokrator. It is derived from two words, pas meaning "all" and krateo meaning "to hold or have strength". This word is used of God only and is translated "omnipotent" in Revelation 19:6. Our God has all strength. He is all powerful. The Lord used this title to let Abram know that He had the power to keep His word, to perform any miracle, and to meet every need Abram had.

Before the Lord

God commanded Abram to walk before Him. This is the place of security for us because God is behind us looking over us. Many times a child will walk before his parents in a shopping mall or store. They are happy and secure knowing that Mom and Dad are right behind them. Watch what happens though when they lose sight of their parents by getting too far ahead. The result is panic. We sometimes panic too because we get too far ahead of the Lord. The book of Genesis gives several examples of what happens before the Lord.

• Walk—Abram was to walk before the Lord. 17:1
• Wait—Abraham stood before the Lord and waited on Him. 18:22
• Wickedness—Man was corrupt before the Lord. 6:11
• Winnow—Nimrod was a mighty hunter before the Lord. 10:9

God told Abram to walk before Him and be perfect. What does He mean "be perfect"? The word used for perfect is tamiym and means "to be entire, complete, faultless, upright in conduct and blameless". God's standard for us is that we be mature Christians, living a holy life, and living blameless before the world. We are to live our lives in such a way where no one can point a finger at our lives and say you wronged me or did wrong. If we have wronged others, we should clear our conscience by seeking forgiveness and making restitution. We are to have a conscience void of offense toward God and men (Acts 24:16; 1 Timothy 1:19).

The Abrahamic Covenant

God's opportunity comes as Abram's extremity is reached. Sarai is very old now and beyond the years of childbirth. Yet, God wants to show Abram He is the Shaddai. God reviews the covenant with Abram and promises to multiply his seed greatly. Many nations and kings would come from Abram and he would be given the land of Canaan, he and his ancestors.

In honor of this very special occasion, Abram's name is changed by the Lord and he is now called ABRAHAM. His name meant "exalted fathers" and now it means "Father of a multitude" as God has promised him.

In the East, it was a custom to change someone's name on the occurrence of some great event in their life. This name was a name of faith, reminding Abraham of God's promise to him. God was responsible for this covenant and He would fulfill its requirements. Abram's name was changed to Abraham by adding the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet to the middle of his name. The number five is the number of grace in the Scriptures. This covenant was based on the grace of God and His mercy in Abraham's life. Everything that we have is attributed to the wonderful grace of God. May we never forget this truth.

Genesis Accounts of When God Spoke

How wonderful it must have been to hear God's voice! Abraham fell on his face in worship when the Lord spoke to him. We too should worship the Lord and let Him speak to us through His Word and the Holy Spirit. This occurs by spending time with the Lord and getting alone with Him in prayer and study of the Word of God. Genesis is full of examples of when God spoke to men and women.

• After Disobedience—Adam heard the voice of the Lord after he had sinned. 3:8
• Directions concerning the ark—God tells Noah to go into the ark. 8:15
• Declarations of His covenant—God speaks of His covenant with Noah. 9:8
• Depart from the country—God tells Abram to leave the country. 12:1
• Destiny of Abram—God speaks to Abram after Lot departs to Sodom. 13:14
• After a Dearth of fellowship—After thirteen years, God speaks to Abram again. 17:3
• In a Dream—God speaks to Abimelech in a dream. 20:3, 6
• Concerning a Dependant—God speaks to Abraham and tells him to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. 22:1
• Departure is commanded—God tells Jacob to return home. 31:3
• Concerning a Dwelling place—God tells Jacob to dwell at Bethel. 35:1
• The Drive to Egypt—God speaks to Israel in a vision and tells him to make the journey to Egypt. 46:2

THE SIGN OF CIRCUMCISION—17:10-14

The sign of obedience and faith in the Lord's covenant with Abraham was that every male be circumcised. Circumcision was the removal of the foreskin of the male sexual organ. This surgical procedure represented several things.

• It was a Sealing of the covenant with God. In Bible times covenants were sealed sometimes with human blood.
• It was a Sign that distinguished Abraham's descendants from the Gentiles. Many tribes were identified by marks on their bodies or their language in Bible times.
• It was a Symbol of purification and putting away wickedness.
• It was a Suggestion or reminder of the covenant with God.
• It was a Step of obedience to the Lord and of faith in Him.

Circumcision was the only surgery mentioned in the Bible outside of God's surgery on Adam. The operation was mainly carried out by the father with a flint knife. It wasn't to be performed in the sanctuary or by a priest. They would heal after several days of rest. After the birth of a child, the Jews were commanded to circumcise the baby boy on the eighth day. Why? God knew that there was not a sufficient amount of vitamin K in the body till the eighth day. Vitamin K causes the blood to clot. Also on the eighth day there is ten percent more prothrombin, a blood clotting agent made in the liver of the body. Celebrations would take place in the home from the time of birth to the eighth day when the child was named and circumcised. A family meal would take place afterward. When the child was circumcised it signified he was being taken into the covenant community.

The Arabs circumcise their boys at the age of thirteen instead of eight days because Ishmael was circumcised at the age of thirteen.

Circumcision has medical benefits. In the desert lands where little bathing was done, men suffered greatly from skin diseases. Circumcision helped prevent some of these diseases such as Trichomonas vaginalis, a venereal disease. Wives whose husbands are circumcised suffer less from diseases such as cancer of the uterine cervix.

THE PROMISED MIRACLE—17:15-22

After God instructs Abraham concerning circumcision, He then changes the name of Sarai which comes from a verb meaning "to persist, persevere, or contend" to Sarah which means "princess". Sarah no longer had to contend with Hagar. God would give her a child of her own and she would be a princess of many nations and people. Abraham's response to God's promise of a child through Sarah is one of laughter. The word "laughed" means "to laugh for joy, or of mockery and scorn". Abraham seems to have doubted what God was saying. Even those with great faith have doubts sometimes in the Lord. Yet, it was not uncommon for a man of his age to have children. Abraham's father was 130 when Abraham was born. It was, however, uncommon for someone like ninety year old Sarah to have children. Sarah's son would be named Isaac which means "laughter, or he laughs".

Doubt in Genesis

Sometimes it may seem that God's Word can't work. Will the Lord ever come or does tithing really work? The answer is "Yes!" Will Sarah have a child at ninety? Yes! Faith in the Lord and confidence in His Word can repel the doubts from our heart. We all sometimes face doubt. We are especially vulnerable when we are sick and not getting well; when a tragedy occurs in our life such as death or financial calamity. It is in these times especially we must trust the Lord. Several examples of doubt are located in this book.

• About a Promise—Abraham doubts God's promise that he will have a son through Sarah. 17:17
• About Potential—Sarah doubts that she could have a child at her age. 18:12
• About Personal Identity—Isaac has doubts about Esau's identity. 27:21-24
• About a Proclamation—Jacob doubted his son's story about Joseph being alive in Egypt. 45:26

God's covenant would be with Isaac, yet, Ishmael would not be left out. God did not forget about him. He would beget twelve princes and be a great nation (25:12-16).

THE OBEDIENCE OF ABRAHAM—17:23-27

Abraham shows his faith in the Lord by obeying His command. He reveals he is a punctual man by doing this quickly. God expects immediate obedience from us all. Abraham was also persuasive as he commanded his household that this delicate and painful surgery must be performed as God commanded. Abraham was thorough doing exactly all that God asked him. May we learn from his life and persuade others to obey God's Word. May we be as punctual as he was and obey the prompts of the Holy Spirit immediately and thoroughly complete all that the Lord leads us to do.

Outlines That Teach
Genesis Chapter 17

1. The Command of God 17:1
   1. The Pace before the Lord—walk before God.
   2. The Perfection in his life—be mature.
2. The Covenant with Abraham 17:2, 4, 6, 7, 9
   1. It's Personal—Between Abraham and God. vs. 2
   2. It's Prosperous—Multiply thee exceedingly. vs. 2
   3. It's Prolific—Be fruitful, nations and kings from thee. vs. 6
   4. Pliancy is commanded—All were to obey. vs. 9
3. The Collapse 17:3
   Abraham falls on his face in worship.
4. The Change in Name 17:5
   Abram's name is changed to Abraham.
5. Canaan is Promised 17:8
6. Circumcision—A Sign of Obedience 17:10-13
   1. The Period after birth—performed on the eighth day. vs. 12
   2. The People—Every male in the house including servants. vs. 10
   3. The Procedure—The flesh of the foreskin is cut. vs. 11
7. The Cutting Off of Covenant-breakers 17:14
8. The Conversion of Sarai's Name 17:15
   Sarai's name is changed to Sarah.
9. A Child is Promised 17:16
10. The Challenge of God's Promise 17:17
    Abraham laughs at the promise of a child and has his doubts.
11. The Cry to God 17:18
    Abraham prays for Ishmael
12. The Covenant Child 17:19
    Isaac would be the child of promise.
13. The Coming Events of Ishmael 17:20
    He would beget twelve princes and form a great nation.
14. Confirming the Covenant With Isaac 17:21
    God makes it clear that the covenant would be established with Isaac.
15. The Conversation Ceases 17:22
16. The Compliance With God's Command 17:23-27
    1. Immediate—Abraham obeyed that day. vs. 23
    2. Involved the whole household of males. vs. 27
    3. Ishmael was thirteen at the time. vs. 25
    4. Infirmity was not a factor—Abraham was 99 years old. vs. 24

Index Topics for Further Research

Appearance of God, Command of God, I Will's of God, Before the Lord, Directions, Doubt, Parents, Obedience, Prophecy, Prayer, Walk with God, Accuracy, Courage, Faith, Thoroughness, Persuasiveness.

Review
Chapter 17

1. What is the meaning of the term "Almighty God"?
2. What happens "before the Lord"?
3. List the examples in Genesis when God spoke to men.
4. What is the significance of circumcision?