Day Two of Week Two
The Covenant of Circumcision
Today's Treasure:
"You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you."
Genesis 17: 11
Chapter 16 ends with these words:
"So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. Abram wa s eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael."
Who gave Ishmael his name according to this passage?
Abram
I don't know about you, but I immediately began to wonder how Abram knew to name his son Ishmael. Hagar was the only one who received the instructions on naming her son when she was confronted by God. Do you think she shared her experience with Abram and Sarai to explain why she returned to them? Do you think God spoke to Abram and told him what to name the boy so Abram and Sarai would believe Hagar? So many questions!!! I am glad I have eternity for all of my questions to be answered in heaven!!!
Read the first verse of Genesis 17. Compared to the conclusion of the previous chapter, how much time had passed?
13 years
At this point, there is a gap of thirteen years in scripture. Imagine what life was like for Abram, Sarai and Hagar at this point. Is God still revealing Himself to them on a regular basis? Or, is Abram struggling with taking the matter into his own hands? Do you think he wondered if God removed His spirit from him because Abram and Sarai did not wait for His instruction?
What kinds of experiences do you imagine filled these years for any of the four individuals involved?
Physical: They grew older – Ishmael grew into a young man. Sarai only grew older without any children of her own.
Emotional: Sarai probably grew more discouraged because she has not given birth. I am sure she thinks it is impossible at this point. I am sure doubt started to enter her=2 0mind.
Spiritual: I wonder if Abram felt separated from God because he followed the advice of Sarai. Sarai may have felt she was being disciplined by God for misleading her husband.
Chapter 17 immediately reveals a new name for God in scripture – God Almighty
"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, 'I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.' "
What does Exodus 6:3 tell you in reference to the revealed names of God?
"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."
At first, these two scriptures seem to contradict themselves; however, Beth suggests that God is possibly referring to the fact that Abraham was unable to "see" the covenant20come to be. Remember that all capital letters (LORD) refers to the covenant God. So, possibly God is stating that since Abraham did not "see" the covenant come to be, he did not "see" the LORD.
After introducing Himself afresh to Abram as God Almighty, what powerful commandment did God issue Abram? (Genesis 17: 1)
You can read the entire scripture above. The answer is to walk before him and be blameless.
In the King James Version, it says to be perfect rather than blameless. I have to tell you that I take a deep breath when I read those words. How can we walk before God and be perfect? Beth states that "perfect" does not mean sinless. It means whole, entire or complete. God wanted Abraham to give his entire self to Him. He did not want part of him ! He wanted all of him! That is exactly what He wants from us today. Don't you love that God is the same yesterday, today and forever!
Read Genesis 17: 1 – 4. What had the LORD come to Abram to do?
To confirm the covenant between God and Abram
In God's lengthy discourse to Abram, what was Abram's one act of response?
He fell face down
Take a look at Genesis 12: 1 – 3, God's first statement of promise to Abram. What additional dimensions appear in Genesis 17: 1 – 14?
God promised to make Abram fruitful, He promised that kings would come from him and He added the covenant of circumcision between God and His people.
Please allow me to type a portion of the Bible study directly from the guide. It touched me so deeply that I wanted to make sure you have these words, in case you do not have the book.
"You undoubtedly noted the name change. Abram means "exalted father" while Abraham means "father of many". Poor Abram. Even his name had mocked his insufficiency. We tend to desire praise, don't we? God's intention is not to promote us, however. He intends for us to bear much fruit, showing ourselves to be His and bringing Him glory (John 15). "God changes Abram's name by adding something to Abram. He adds to Abram's name the Hebrew letter he, the repeated letter among the four letters of the Tetragrammation (YHWH). It is a sound in the Hebrew language,20like the letter "H" in the English language, that is made by breathing out. The Hebrew word used for the Spirit of God is the word Ruach. It means literally 'the outbreathing'. He breathes Himself into Abram and makes him Abraham, Father of Multitudes. The new syllable of Abram's name is placed in its center. Abram, with [Jehovah's breath] within him, becomes Abraham."
What would your name be if God breathed a "he" into it?
When we receive Christ, God breathes the Holy Spirit into our lives!!!
I (Beth) hope you noted Abram's link to royalty: "kings will come from you" (Genesis 17: 6). I only want to whet your appetite for now, but what glorious three person royal link do you discover in Matthew 1:1?
Christ--------------Son20of David ---------------Son of Abraham
The biggest command in Chapter 17 is for the household of Abraham to be circumcised as a symbol of the covenant between God and Abraham. Circumcision was a practice already in place during Abraham's day, but it was used as a sign of manhood rather than a symbol of belonging to God. God did not instruct the males to be thirteen years old before they were to be circumcised. He wanted the circumcision to take place at 8 days old for the descendants of Abraham. This would create an intimate and personal symbol for these men that they belong to God Almighty. It is not a coincidence that God chose to mark the most intimate and personal part of a man that he associates with strength and procreation. Beth wants us to remember that before his circumcision, Abraham was unable to produce anything without manipulation. Immediately after his circumcision, Abraham experienced a divine miracle. Sarah gave birth within one year of his circumcision.
The New Testament emphasizes a circumcision of the heart. Can you see any parallels for our lives?
Romans 4: 9 – 12
"Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised."
Galatians 2: 15 – 21
"We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.
If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
You and I may need to "put off" or "cut off" something from our lives so we can bear much fruit. Is God speaking to you about this?
I know many of you may not see it, but Satan stays on me constantly! He tries to fill me with doubt about my healing, and I have to cast him off of me each and every day right when I open my eyes! The more faithful we try to be, the more Satan attacks us to take away our joy….he won't have mine!!!!
The consequences of Abraham and his descendants' obedience to this command is clear. What consequence is stated in Genesis 17: 14?
"Any uncircumcised male, who has not be circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant."
Thank you for allowing me to share part of my day with you! I thank God for each and every one of you each day, and I love you for standing by me!
In Him,
Tiffany Pate
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