17:10 {c} This [is] my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.(c) Circumcision is called the covenant, because it signifies the covenant and has the promise of grace joined to it: a phrase that is common to all ordinances. 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
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
7-14 The covenant of grace is from everlasting in the counsels of it, and to everlasting in the consequences of it. The token of the covenant was circumcision. It is here said to be the covenant which Abraham and his seed must keep. Those who will have the Lord to be to them a God, must resolve to be to him a people. Not only Abraham and Isaac, and his posterity by Isaac, were to be circumcised, but also Ishmael and the bond-servants. It sealed not only the covenant of the land of Canaan to... read more
Circumcision Instituted v. 9. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep My covenant, therefore, thou and thy seed after thee in their generations. The promise of goodness and mercy on the part of God imposes an obligation on man to keep the provisions of His covenant. v. 10. This is My covenant, which ye shall keep between Me and you and thy seed after thee: Every man child among you shall be circumcised. So circumcision, the operation by which the foreskin of the flesh is removed, is not a... read more
SIXTH SECTIONAbram and the repeated Promise of God. The name Abram changed to Abraham. The personal Covenant of Faith, now a Covenant Institution for him, his Household and his Seed. Circumcision. The name Sarai changed to Sarah. The new Names. The promised one not Ishmael, but IsaacGenesis 17:1-271And when [after the lapse of a long period] Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him. I am the Almighty God [El Shaddai]; walk before me, and be thou... read more
Genesis WAITING FAITH REWARDED AND STRENGTHENED BY NEW REVELATIONS Gen_17:1 - Gen_17:9 . Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. He was ninety-nine when God appeared to him, as recorded in this chapter. There had been three divine communications in these twenty-five years-one at Bethel on entering the land, one after the hiving off of Lot, and one after the battle with the Eastern kings. The last-named vision had taken place before Ishmael’s birth, and therefore more than... read more
God’s Covenant with Abraham Genesis 17:1-14 At least thirteen years had passed since the promise of Isaac was first made. Years of sorrow and discipline, but God had not forgotten. Always under such circumstances the Eternal voice bids us to walk before him and be perfect. Our surrender must be complete, our obedience absolute, our faith fixed steadfastly on the Promiser. So only can God fulfill His covenant, which includes fruitfulness, the salvation of our households, the inheritance and... read more
This chapter gives the account of the fifth appearance of God to Abram in which a divine covenant was made. At this point his name was changed from Abram, which means exalted father, to Abraham, which means, the father of a multitude. The change was significant, as it placed emphasis not upon the importance of the man, but upon the purpose of God through him. Here Jehovah announced Himself as El-Shaddai, the full meaning of which is God all-sufficient. Abraham yielded himself to the... read more
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Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 17:1-27
CHAPTER 17 The Fifth Communication and the Covenant Repeated 1. The communication and Abram worships (Genesis 17:1-3 ) 2. The enlarged promise (Genesis 17:4-8 ) 3. The covenant sign (Genesis 17:9-14 ) 4. Sarah’s seed promised (Genesis 17:15-16 ) 5. The laughter of Abraham (Genesis 17:17 ) 6. Abraham’s plea for Ishmael (Genesis 17:18-22 ) 7. Abraham’s obedience (Genesis 17:23-27 ) The promises which the Lord now gives to Abram are most complete. His name is changed; he is now to... read more