# 02 2023 Dev. Gen.17:1.Walk Faithfully! Read all of chapter seventeen first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from The NIV.
Gen.17:1 “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said: ‘I am God almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.”
Gen.17 God makes a covenant with Abram like God made a covenant with Noah. God made a promise to Noah and all the animals about not flooding the earth ever again, and the sign of the covenant was the rainbow. God’s covenant with Abram was more comprehensive. That is what this whole chapter is about.
Vs.1-8 You will the father of many nations, I am changing your name to “Abraham”, “it will be an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” That includes us as followers of Jesus. Further, God gives Abraham and his descendants the land of Canaan forever. The Word forever tells us that what God is promising is the New Heaven and the New Earth. Canaan, fore-shadows the promise of Heaven.
Vs.9-14 “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision and it will be the sign of the covenant between you and me.” All those in Abrahams household were to be circumcised in the flesh. Again, this fore-shadows the circumcised heart and is replaced with baptism in the New Testament.
Vs.15-16 “God also said to Abraham, as for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah, I will give you a son by her, she will be the mother of nations…” She was equally blessed along with Abraham. She starts to fulfill the Mother Promise, Ge. 3:15.
Vs.17-18 Abraham fell down and laughed, Abraham asked God to accept Ishmael, he doubted given their age, understandable, but our God is a God of miracles. God heard Abraham, Yes, I will bless Ismael, but my covenant will be with Isaac.
Vs. 19-22 “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac”, by the way that name means laughter. God made His covenant with Isaac, not yet born, and God makes His covenant with us, not yet born, all who call upon the name of the Lord. Praise be to God!
Vs.23-24 On that day Abraham did all God commanded him, thanks be to God! Today, are we still walking faithfully with God?
Heavenhigh 