Genesis 17:1-27 The Lord Reiterates His Covenant with Abraham

Genesis is a book of beginnings. It records what we need to know in order to understand God’s program as outlined in the rest of the Bible.

One of the key aspects of that program relates to the nation of Israel. What are the beginnings of that group of people? What promises has God made to Israel? What will God do with that nation in the future? What is God’s program for the other nations?

These vital questions can only be answered if we understand what God has promised in Genesis. In particular they point back to God’s covenant with Abraham as stated in Genesis 12, 15 and 17.

This covenant is so important that it appears in more than one place. The Lord wants to make sure that we understand it and believe it.

Genesis 17 describes an incident that occurs when Abraham is 99 years old. The Lord speaks with him and reiterates the promise he had given years earlier. He then changes Abraham’s name from Abram to Abraham. The new name means “father of many” or father of a multitude.”

From that day forward Abraham would have a constant reminder of God’s promised plan for him. Can you imagine Abraham telling people to call him Abraham, father of many, when at the age of 99 he didn’t even have a child? Abraham would truly need to trust in the Lord to accept the name change.

Notice that God promises to give the land to Abraham and his descendants as a permanent possession. It would be theirs forever.

The nation of Israel is currently situated on part of this promised land. However, the boundaries do not match those delineated in the Scripture. Furthermore, Israel recently gave the Gaza strip to the Palestinians for a Palestinian state.

Nevertheless, God’s promises to Abraham are still in effect. One day the Israelites will occupy the land just as Genesis 17 promises, “I will give the whole land of Canaan- the land where you are residing – to you and your descendants after you as a permanent possession” (Gen 17:8).

Current political maneuverings will not thwart or frustrate the plan of God.

God, then told Abraham to circumcise all of the males in his household. Abraham immediately obeyed the command.

The Lord not only changed Abram’s name but changed Sarai’s name as well. He changed it to Sarah, meaning princess. He promised again to give her a son even though she was a woman past child bearing years.

When Abraham laughed at God’s statement, The Lord told him to name the boy Isaac, meaning laughter. His son’s name would constantly remind him of God’s ability to bring about great things that seem so impossible to us that we laugh.

How great and magnificent is the God you and I worship. He is able to do anything He wishes. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly over anything we could think or ask.

His covenant to Abraham is still in effect. He will bring about its provisions just as He promised. That truth gives us comfort in knowing that we do not live out our days alone in a troubled, unbelieving and confused world. While there is certainly trouble, unbelief and confusion in our day, the Lord is with us. He protects us and blesses us.

Today, do not be afraid of the future. Trust in the Lord. When the leaders of Middle Eastern nations rattle their sabers and threaten to destroy us with nuclear weapons, know that there is a God in heaven who knows the end from the beginning. He has a plan, and the world will not do anything to keep Him from bringing that plan to fruition.

He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Besides Him there is none other. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with us all.