Genesis 17:23-27 Abraham's instant obedience

 Then Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all the servants who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the very same day, as God had said to him. 24 Now Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 In the very same day Abraham was circumcised, and Ishmael his son. 27 All the men of his household, who were born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.


After God has explained how He plans to bless Abraham and Sarah, and He tells Abraham of his plan for Isaac, and God has told Abraham what is required of him and his servants and his household - Abraham and his household do what God asked them to do.

We have already discussed the amount of obedience that would be required for a grown man to uphold his part of this covenant. 

I think the importance of this whole set of verses is the obedience of Abraham to do what God asked of him.  And, it was instant obedience.  They didn't think about it for a few days, discuss it.  They just obeyed, that day.

Genesis 17:15-22 God's promise of Isaac

 Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” 19 But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year.” 22 When He finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.


This has conveniently corresponded to my grandson's homeschool lesson.  How difficult to teach the precepts of God to a 6 year old.  But, I find that being taught as a young child, I still remember the story in young child terms.  Reading again for myself as an adult helps me learn more of the character of God.  And, that is the point of this exercise.  Understanding this God whom I serve as fully as possible without someone trying to pull me to one camp or another. 


Observe:  God changes Sarai's name to Sarah
                   He promises to bless her and give Abraham a son through Sarah
                  He tells them that Kings will come through her

                   Abraham laughs at the thought of being a parent at such an old age
                   Abraham tries to apply people-logic.  God must have meant through Ishmael
                   God corrects Abraham and makes it clear
                   God hears Abraham's desire for Ishmael to be blessed and answers his concern
                    God re-states that His covenant will be with Isaac
                   God is specific about when Sarah will deliver

I love that God is again clear in what He is saying to Abraham.  I love that God shows his concern toward Abraham in dealing with Ishmael.  I love that He is still firm about what His plan is.

Lord, help us to hear Your instruction, Your guidance, Your words to us.  Thank You for rising up mighty men of God to teach us more about You.  Thank You for Your word and for giving us what we need to have to learn about You.
Help us to be forever changed by You, walking according to Your Spirit, doing Your will.
In Jesus Name - amen

Genesis 17:9-14 The covenant and circumcision

God said further to Abraham, “Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12 And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants. 13 A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”


Okay, normally I stick right to the text at hand.  But, here I can't do it.

In the new testament (some of by Bible scholar friends will have to help me by telling me where) the New Testament Jesus church is just starting out and there is a debate between some of the leaders.  Some want the gentiles who are coming in to be circumcised.  Here is why.  I understand, growing up with this covenant as your standard, your guide.  I understand why they want to make the gentiles come in to this covenant.  It is spelled out by God himself.  It is clear that ALL of the household are to be circumcised.  It was important to fully obey God.  They just didn't understand how fully the new covenant had replaced the old one.  We will have a great conversation about that in 10 years when we get to the new testament - ha haha.

Now, for the current.
obedience to a covenant was very important and laid out clearly here.  Specifics.

I am still struck by the fact that God so carefully lines out clearly what is important to adhere to.  He didn't make them guess whether or not their servants "counted" in the convenant.  He told them exactly what He wanted.  He also didn't make them guess what would happen if they were not circumcised.

Not many people have seen a circumcision done.  I have seen many.  Not on the 8th day, but honestly I don't know why we ever stepped away from God's idea there.  He made us, He probably knows when it is best to do that.  Either way, not to be too inappropriate, but, these men were far older than 8 days old and it is not a pleasant experience.  They were serious about God and their obedience was not easy.
Sometimes I think we get soft and whimpy in our obedience to God.  I whine when I get a little less sleep than I think I want.  I need to toughen up!

What I learn about the character of God here is that when something is very important, He makes sure the message is clear.  And, that sometimes God will ask me to do difficult stuff, that's okay.  He doesn't even really have to tell me why.  Note that however clear God was about what they were to do, why was nowhere in this conversation.  I also need to help my children and grandchildren learn (which is  personal difficulty for me) that there is value in limited information obedience if the person asking it is trustworthy.  God doesn't always answer all of our questions before he asks for our obedience.

Sorry, talking too much.

Lord, thank You for Your word.  Thank You for allowing us to learn about who You are and how You work and what You desire from Your children.  Please help us to hear You clearly, and follow You willingly, even when it is painful or not easy.  In Jesus Name - amen

Genesis 17:1-8 Abram becomes Abraham establishing a covenant

Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him,

“I am God Almighty;

Walk before Me, and be blameless.

2 “I will establish My covenant between Me and you,

And I will multiply you exceedingly.”

3 Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying,

4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you,

And you will be the father of a multitude of nations.

5 “No longer shall your name be called Abram,

But your name shall be Abraham;

For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.

6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. 7 I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. 8 I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

 

Oh my goodness, how overwhelming this conversation must have been for Abram!  I know that when I pray and God starts to answer me, when I am sure it is His voice, I am instantly and overwhelmingly humbled.  No wonder Abram fell on his face!

 

Now, there's so much to this! 

 

First, God calls Abram to be blameless.  He says it outright.  Walk before me and be blameless.

 

Abram is wise not to talk but to listen.  Somehow I don't think interrupting God is a good idea!

 

God doesn't make promises like we do, His are everlasting.  It says so.  throughout generations!

 

Here is  where Abram becomes Abraham, at God's request and with the promise that God would make Abraham the father of a multitude of nations, not just one.  Interesting.  Not just Israel, a multitude of nations.  Never saw that before.

 

But before all of this promise comes the request for Abram to walk blamelessly.  There isn't even a law written yet, not rules, just walk blameless.  Hmm. 

 

God's not done yet, there is more coming.  This is an important beginning.

 

 

Lord, help us to humble ourselves to hear You.  Help us to walk blameless as much as we possibly can.  Help us to be willing for You to change who we are down to even our names.  Help us to be willing to be used by You and changed by You so we can help other to see You.

 

In Jesus Name

Amen

 

 

just a note:  I realize that we are bought and paid for by Jesus who covers our sin.  I am just soaking up the lessons of the Old Testament including when God expected men to walk upright.

Genesis 16:11-16 An Angel appears to Hagar

The angel of the LORD said to her further,

“Behold, you are with child,

And you will bear a son;

And you shall call his name Ishmael,

Because the LORD has given heed to your affliction.

12 “He will be a wild donkey of a man,

His hand will be against everyone,

And everyone’s hand will be against him;

And he will live to the east of all his brothers.”

13 Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees”; for she said, “Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

15 So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him

 

Well, this is a loaded bit of scripture!

 

How impressive this angel must have been if Hagar thought she had seen "Him". 

 

If I am being honest, and I usually am, this would have troubled me.  I'm not sure I would have come away thinking - "awesome!"  He is going to fight a lot!

 

I would also like to know what Beer-lahai-roi means.  I may look that up in a bit.

 

On the other hand, the angel of the Lord appearing to me would clearly remind me that God had heard my cry to him, whatever the message was. 

 

So, I know that people equate Ishmael with the origin of the Arab nation.  I will keep reading.  I don't know if that is universally accepted or just something I have been told.  I will see what continues in scripture.  Interesting. 

 

How brave Hagar must have needed to be to go back to the house of her mistress who had just sent her away.  How humbling to go back, submit to her authority, and stay throughout the rest of that pregnancy. 

 

Soap operas and TV drama has nothing on old testament saga

It might require a bit more thinking to see the implications of each verse in the story, but wow!

 

note:  well of the living one who sees me - translation thanks Deana!

Genesis 16:7-11 an Angel appears to Hagar

Now the angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. 8 He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” 9 Then the angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority.” 10 Moreover, the angel of the LORD said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.” 11 The angel of the LORD said to her further,


Wow, the angel of the Lord did know the underlying issue.  She wasn't submitted to her mistress.  Now, whatever I may think of this rather interesting arrangement, she was still supposed to be submitted to Sarai.  Maybe that is why the whole thing fell apart.  Maybe she figured she was carrying Abram's kid so she should be top dog.  I can imagine feeling that way.  And, God already knew he had the plan of giving Abram and Sarai a child of their own, but Hagar did not know that.

I love how God sees the difficulty of our circumstances even when we have to stay in them.

The angel gives her a promise.  She is promised that her descendants would multiply and be too many to count also.  How interesting. 

God seems to help encourage his children to go the way He would like them to go.  He doesn't just order and wait for them to fail.  He sends messengers, He allows encouragement. 

Hmmmmm

Genesis 16:1-6 Sarai gives Hagar to Abram

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 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. 4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the LORD judge between you and me.” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence.


I know that the culture was different at this time, but I still have a hard time with this scenario.  I can see that Sarai was trying to provide for Abram through Hagar what she herself had been unable to give him - a son.  It actually seems very unselfish to me. 

So, Abram does take Hagar at Sarai's suggestion and Hagar conceives.  Then, she decides that she doesn't like Sarai any longer, or Sarai was despised in the sight of Hagar. 

Was it greed?  Or an "I'm better than you, ha ha ha!" attitude.  It isn't clear, either way it ticks Sarai off.  Which honestly I guess it would tick me off too!

On a lighter note, Abram is NOT an idiot.  When Sarai complains to him about Hagar, he very smartly does NOT take up for her, but restates that Hagar is Sarai's maid and under her power to deal with.

Well, this is just the beginning of the story. 

Lord, help us to not despise those in authority over us.  Help us to deal rightly with those who we are in authority over.  Help us to deal rightly in all things.

In Jesus Name
Amen