Genesis Chapter 17
Abram Renamed Abraham
17:1 When Abram was 99, the LORD appeared to him, “I’m God Almighty [El-Shaddai]. Follow me faithfully, 2 and I’ll multiply you many times over.” 3 Abram fell on his face, and God told him,
4 “This is my side of the covenant with you: you’ll be the ancestor of many nations. 5 Your name won’t be Abram anymore; it’ll be Abraham because I’ll make you ‘the ancestor of many nations.’ 6 I’ll make you really numerous. Nations will descend from you; kings will come out of you. 7 With you and your descendants I’ll establish my permanent covenant to be your God. 8 I’ll give you and your descendants an ongoing possession—Canaan, where you’ve lived as a nomad.
Gen 17:1-8
Circumcision as the Covenant Sign
9-10 “This is your and your descendants’ side of the covenant: circumcise every male among you 11 as a covenant sign between us. 12 Circumcise them when they’re eight days old. Circumcise a servant that’s not your descendant whether born in your house or bought from a foreigner. 13 Circumcision will be the ongoing, physical covenant sign in sons and servants. 14 Any uncircumcised male will be excluded from the community because he hasn’t observed the terms of my covenant.
Gen 17:9-14
Sarai Renamed Sarah
15 “Your wife’s name won’t be Sarai anymore; it’ll be Sarah. 16 I’ll bless her and give you a son by her. She’ll be the mother of many nations; kings will come from her.”
17 Abraham fell on his face and “laughed” to himself,
“Can a man that’s 100 years old become a father? Can Sarah have a baby when she’s 90? 18 If only Ishmael would live under your blessing!”
19 God said,
“No, Sarah will have a child. Name him Isaac. I’ll make a permanent covenant with him and his descendants. 20 I’ve listened to you about Ishmael. I’ll bless him and make him really numerous, the father of 12 princes, a large nation. 21 But my covenant will be with Isaac that Sarah will have next year.”
22 When God finished talking, he ascended. 23 That same day Abraham circumcised Ishmael, the male servants born in his house, and the ones he’d bought—like God said. 24 He was 99 when he was circumcised; 25 Ishmael was 13. [ 26-27 ]
Gen 17:15-27