17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an {g} everlasting covenant, [and] with his seed after him.(g) The everlasting covenant is made with the children of the Spirit. A temporary promise is made with the children of the flesh, as was promised to Ishmael. read more
17:23 And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house; and {h} circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.(h) They were well taught if they obeyed and were circumcised without resistance. This teaches that masters in their houses ought to be as preachers to their families, that from the highest to the lowest they may obey the will of God. read more
THE COVENANT AND ITS SIGN - CIRCUMCISION Another thirteen years passes before the Lord's appearing to Abram now at the age of 99 years. In Chapter 15:1 He had told Abram, "I am your shield, your exceeding great reward." Now He tells him, "I am Almighty God" (v.1). He does not emphasize the fact of His faithful protecting care for Abram, as He did before, but the fact of His own great power. Based on this, He tells Abram to walk before Him and be blameless. Also, because He knew that Abram's... read more
CONTENTS This chapter is rendered the more memorable, in that it contains the substance of the Covenant of Grace, which, though here represented as made between God and Abram, yet in reality, forms the outline of that everlasting Covenant made with the Lord Jesus Christ, for all the spiritual seed of Abram. In this Chapter, God's appearance to Abram is taken notice of: the effect induced by it on the mind of the patriarch: the names of Abram and Sarai are changed; the rite of circumcision... read more
As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Charming view of Abram's faith and humility. So, depend upon it more or less, are all Abram's spiritual children. See Daniel 8:17 - Daniel 10:15 ; Revelation 1:17 . Reader! do not overlook the expression. God calls it his Covenant. Yes! a Covenant ordered in all things, and sure, must be God's. And it is the happiness of his people, that He who hath made it, undertakes for its accomplishment. Jeremiah 32:40... read more
Neither shall thy name anymore be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. The name Abram signifies a great Father: and Abraham, the Father of a multitude. It is pleasing to observe, that the Gospel Church when married to the Bridegroom hath her name changed: See Isaiah 62:2-4 . And is not every individual believer the same? See Revelation 2:17 . read more
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Reader! pause over that very precious word in this place, everlasting, and then read it afresh; and beg the Holy Ghost to write it on your heart. An everlasting Covenant founded in divine love, established in divine mercy, and secured in everlasting faithfulness. Oh! how delightful to the view of a poor perishing... read more
Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? It is profitable to observe, how God's purposes are accomplished, concerning the fulfilment of this promise. As this child was a child of promise, Sarah shall be left past the period allowed to child-bearing, that God's grace in the gift, might more illustriously appear. Surely that song of the Church, sung in after... read more
And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! Oh! that all parents had Abraham's spirit, and used this prayer! read more
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Geneva Study Bible - Genesis 17:17
17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and {f} laughed, and said in his heart, Shall [a child] be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?(f) Which proceeded from a sudden joy, and not from lack of faith. read more