The Impossible Promised - Genesis 17:1-27

Genesis 17:1-27 The Impossible Promised 20210829 God specializes in the impossible redemption What are you particularly good at? What’s your specialty? Is there a skill or ability that sets you apart, something that causes others to turn to you when they need help in such an area? Maybe you’re great in the kitchen, so others look to you for assistance or advice when it comes to preparing certain dishes. Perhaps your specialty is sewing, so making alterations to clothing is something friends call you up for. Or maybe it’s welding, or painting, or teaching, or music, or hospitality, or video editing. We tend to be identified and to identify others by these specialties, don’t we? I can think of different times when my family has called upon some of you for help in an area where you specialize. From medical needs to electrical help to counsel and comfort. This morning I’d like you to consider with me this question - What is God’s specialty? Not to put God within a box and say he has one area of specialization or expertise, but to consider what you think about God being able to do when you think about God. What is God known for in your heart and mind, and what is he capable of doing? To help us answer this question, I want to follow this chapter through the course of 4 new names introduced to us in Genesis 17. Scripture Passage: Genesis 17:1-27 God Almighty (vv.1-2) 1. v.1 “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…’” - Moses wants to make plain to us the chronology of these events and appearances. We ended Genesis 16 with an 86 year old Abram and his newborn son, Ishmael. Abram had already been living in Canaan for 10 years, according to Genesis 16:3. Now, in Genesis 17:1 we read that Abram is 99 years old. That’s 23 years that have passed with Abram living in Canaan, with the promise of being the father of a multitude like the stars in the sky. All he could count was the birth of one son, Ishmael, by his own effort and sinful impatience, outside of God’s design of marriage. 1. Ishmael was now 13 years old, and the tension in the family of Abram must have been intense. Sarai continued barren and childless; the relationship between Sarai and Hagar likely didn’t improve as more time went by. 2. It’s here in this tense situation, where I’m sure confusion existed for Abram around God’s promise and its fulfillment, that the LORD appears to Abram and gives him a further revelation of himself. 1. That’s the beauty of relationship with God and the revelation that comes through his Word. As time goes on, more is made clear. In Genesis 12 the Lord calls Abram, and Abram builds an altar to the Lord and calls upon the name of the Lord. Then, in Genesis 14, Melchizedek, priest of God Most High, blesses Abram by "God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth.” Abram adopts this language just a few verses later, as he has now had greater revelation of God. Now, in Genesis 17, the LORD appears to him and reveals himself as God Almighty. 1. God Almighty - The Hebrew is El Shaddai. This is how God revealed himself to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Exodus 6:3 “I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them.” 2. God Almighty speaks of his omnipotence, that his power is limitless. Nothing is beyond his reach or outside of his control. Abram was living in great tension and confusion, but God was still in control. Abram was seeing the years slip by and the promise still being unfulfilled, but God was yet to exercise his power. The book of Job, during his time of intense trial and confusion, calls God the Almighty 31 times. 1. I know you’re familiar with trial and confusion; it’s seems part and parcel with the human experience. But have you meditated on the might of God, a might that is almighty, that is unstoppable and immeasurable, a might that is right and fights for you? Psalm 91:1–2 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Is your confusion a result of not factoring in the might of God working on your behalf, for your good and his glory? 2. Remember the question from earlier - what is God’s specialty? Almighty isn’t his specialty, but it’s a significant contributor to his speciality. 3. Walk before me - live your life coram Deo, in the face of God, knowing that all you do and think and say is done before the Almighty God. 2. v.2 “…that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” - Notice in this opening paragraph how often we see what God is doing and will do. “I will” is saturating this text. This isn’t what Abram can accomplish, but what God Almighty is going to accomplish, multiplying Abraham greatly. Transition: This leads to the second new name in this chapter, which is Abraham. Abraham, Father of a Multitude (vv.3-14) 1. v.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.” - It seems that the name Abram, meaning exalted father, was pointing back to his lineage and ancestry, his place of prominence in society. Abraham, meaning father of a multitude, was pointing forward to what God had promised and would accomplish. 1. Donald Grey Barnhouse writes about the name of Abram, saying, “Abram was an Oriental…strategically located athwart the roads of the camel caravans that carried the commerce of the ancient world between Egypt and the North and East. He owned the wells, and his flocks and herds were great. The Scripture says that ‘Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold’ (Gen. 13:2). When the caravans of the rich merchants came into the land, either from the north or from the south, they stopped at Abram’s wells. The servants of Abram took good care of the needs of the camels and the servants of the traders. Food was sold to the travellers. And in the evening time the merchants would have come to Abram’s tent to pay their respects. The questions would have followed a set pattern. How old are you? Who are you? How long have you been here? When the trader had introduced himself, Abram was forced to name himself: Abram, father of many. It must have happened a hundred times, a thousand times, and each time more galling than the time before. ‘Oh, father of many! Congratulations! And how many sons do you have?’ And the answer was so humiliating to Abram: ‘None.’ And, many a time there must have been the half concealed snort of humor at the incongruity of the name and the fact that there were no children to back up such a name. Abram must have steeled himself for the question and the reply, and have hated the situation with great bitterness.” 2. Abraham receives a new name, looking forward to the impossible task that God will perform. God promises he will be exceedingly fruitful, he will become nations, and kings will come from him (v.6). 2. v.10 “Every male among you shall be circumcised.” - The promise God made in Genesis 12 is further filled out here. The covenant was unilateral, in that God was the one who came up with the terms and will ultimately accomplish it, but Abraham did have a part to play. But I think it’s significant that his part, circumcision, is actually a cutting away of himself, a reduction. And it was directly related to his procreation, a constant reminder that God had promised, and it would need to be God Almighty that would accomplish his promise. Transition: This brings us to the third new name, that given to Sarai. Sarah, Princess Mother of Kings (vv.15-19) 1. v.15 “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.” - Sarai means “princess”, and Sarah means “princess.” This might seem like it’s not much of a change, but the seemingly slight change has great significance. Like the name Abram was pointing back and the name Abraham was pointing forward to God’s promise, so it seems to be with Sarah. Sarai was pointing back to her position in society and her ancestry, but Sarah, meaning princess, was pointing forward to the fact that as a princess she would be the mother of kings. When it’s paired with the promise of God it takes on a huge significance. 1. Sarah is 90 years old, and she is just as much a part of this promise as Abraham. Notice how closely the promise concerning her parallels the promise made to Abraham (vv.16, 6). 2. v.19 “God said, ‘No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac.” - Abraham resorts back to his own doing, the work of his flesh outside of God’s design, Ishmael. Would’t it just be easier to have Ishmael be the one the promise is fulfilled through? But remember, we’re dealing with God Almighty. He has promised a son through Sarah. Transition: This mention of Isaac brings us to our fourth new name in this chapter. Isaac, Merry Laughter (vv.19-21) 1. v.19 “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac.” - The name Isaac means laughter, and it seems that Abraham’s laughter at the promise of God is a laughter of merriment, not mocking or disbelief. He isn’t reprimanded for his laughter, as Sarah is when she laughs in Gen. 18. 2. v.21 “But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.” - The covenant being established with Isaac, and the promise being carried forward through him, shows that God isn’t looking for the path of least resistance, but he has a course charted out, he has made promises concerning it, and by his mighty strength he will accomplish those promises. Conclusion So what is God’s specialty? Not just doing the impossible, but even more specific than that. God specializes in redemption, which is relationship with him. Do you see the last phrase in v.8? That’s covenant language, the language of redemption and relationship. Jer. 9:25-26 God makes clear that he wants circumcised hearts. This language of being their God is in the promise of the New Covenant, where God promises new hearts (Jer. 32:26-41).