The Covenant of Abraham

Background

In chapter 15 God tells Abram of the covenant that he will have with him and his descendants

⁃ 10 years passes and still no offspring

⁃ In Chapter 16 Abram takes matters into his own hands

⁃ at this point in chapter 17 Abram had been in the land for 24 years and was 99 years old

⁃ it had been 13 years since the birth of Abrams son Ishmael (Hagar)

⁃ What chapter 17 is talking about is exactly how the covenant will be carried out.

⁃ there are two main people in this chapter :

⁃ God (El Shaddai)

⁃ Abram.

1.) Conversation about the Covenant (v1-8)

⁃ unlike chapter 15 God comes to Abram not in a dream but in person

⁃ A.) The name of God (v1)

⁃ El Shaddai = Which Means “God Almighty”

⁃ this is the first time this name of God is recorded in the Bible

⁃ Shaddai is associated in Genesis with the divine promise of children and nations

⁃ B.) Two obligations are required from Abram in this covenant (v1)

⁃ 1.) walk before me

⁃ follow the plans i have laid out for you

⁃ 2.) be blameless

⁃ live a life worthy of a nation of kings

⁃ C.) Two outcomes (v2)

⁃ 1.) that God will make his covent with him

⁃ 2.) That his number will be greatly increased

⁃ D.) Abram Becomes Abraham (v3-8)

⁃ There are 4 features to the Covenant between God and Abraham

⁃ 1.) God will make him the father of many nations (v5)

⁃ 2.) the Lord will grant him many children (v6)

⁃ 3.) the covenant is multigenerational or everlasting (v7)

⁃ 4.) the land in which in generations will live. (v8)

2.) Command of the Covenant (v9-14)

-A.) Sign of the covenant

1.) Native impurity must be laid aside especially in marriage

2.) That human nature is unable to generate the promised seed.

-B.) Failure to take this sign meant being cut off or separated from God and the rest of the tribe.

3.) Contents of the Covenant (v15-19)

Sarah- her name was changed but the meaning stays the same, (princess) God even tells her that from her will be born Kings of people's (v16)

- it was the normal custom in the times of the patriarchs for the husband to rename his wife at the time of there marriage, we see this when Adam named his wife Eve in chapter 3

- Sarah had to be the mother of Gods chosen people because she was Abrahams legal wife.

Abrahams reaction- (v17-18)

1.) falling on his face before God with reverence - this is the ultimate sign of worship and respect shown to God

2.) laughter- Abraham truly wants to believe what God is telling him but his brain is just to finite to truly understand Gods plan

3.) reasons- try's to tell God how impossible this is

4.) pleads- Abraham try's to once again use Ishmael as his rightful son.

4.) Culmination of the Covenant (v23-27)

Obedience- it says that on that very day Abraham carried out the sign

- most likely on himself then on Ishmael and then on the other men of his household

Faith- even though he truly could not figure out how or why things were going to play out his faith was placed in Gods hands and knew it would happen.

088 Benediction

May that One whose love has no limit,

Whose grace has no measure,

Whose power has no boundary known unto men.

May He from His infinite riches in Jesus,

Send you help from His sanctuary and grant you His

support from that heavenly Zion.