The Ripple Effect (Abraham)

Genesis 17:15-27

God does not stop talking after He describes the conditions of the covenant to Abraham.

Instead, He keeps speaking, and what He says is incredible.

He continues by explaining how His blessing will overflow and impact everyone else in Abraham’s life: Sarah will give birth and become the mother of nations, Isaac will carry the everlasting covenant, and Ishmael will father a host of rulers.

The sweeping promises conclude with God rising back up to Heaven and Abraham immediately following through with circumcising all the men in his care, including himself.

A number of important events stand out in this section.

First, Sarai’s name is changed to Sarah.

It’s a much less drastic change than Abram to Abraham, but still it shows that she is as much a part of God’s plan as her husband is.

Second, Abraham showed an instant of doubt.

It’s hard to blame him since he’s been waiting over 20 years now for a son.

But God does not reprimand him. Instead, He reaffirms His promise: Ishmael will be blessed, but Isaac is the one they’ve all been waiting for.

Finally, Abraham follows through, circumcising what would likely have been hundreds of men that very same day.

The promises God places on our lives will affect everyone around us.

For Abraham, they impacted his wife, his children, his servants, and even his enemies.

It’s this reality that makes trusting God so much more difficult at times, because the consequences of our faith do not just fall on us, but also onto our spouses, our children, or our employees.

As leaders, we bear the weight of responsibility for those placed under our care and we should never take that lightly.

However, we also should never let that duty restrain us from taking risks for God and acting immediately on the things God has called us to do.

Everyone who was a part of Abraham’s story faced the risk of things turning out badly.

Traveling was dangerous, giving birth (especially at an old age) was dangerous, having all the men in your camp bedridden because of circumcision was dangerous.

But at the same time, they were all blessed because of it.

Sarah mothered a nation, Abraham entered a covenant, and all those men and women in their care became part of something eternally bigger than they could have imagined.

Takeaway: Our relationship with God affects everyone around us.

Prayer: Father, help me trust that You have not only my best in mind, but also the best for my family, for my friends, and for everyone You put under my care. Help me lead well.