Genesis 17
God Promises Descendants & Renames Abram
When Abram was 99 years old, the Existing One appeared to him and said,
“It’s me, the Ultimate God. Live your life out where I can see you instead of behind my back. Live with integrity and align yourself with the truth. I’m establishing an alliance between you and me, and I will really grow your greatness and multiply your descendants.”
Abram fell on his face, and God continued,
“You’re the one I’m establishing my alliance with, and you’ll become the patriarch of a multitude of countries. Your name won’t be Abram anymore [which means “exalted father.”] From now on, your name will be Abraham [which means “patriarch of a multitude,”] because I have made you the patriarch of a multitude of countries.
“I’ll make your fruitfulness grow excessively. I’ll form entire countries out of you, and kings will rise up from you. Even after you die, I’ll continue upholding our alliance with your descendants throughout their generations forever. I’ll be your God and your descendants’ God. I’ll give you and your descendants the land of Canaan as your property forever. I’ll be their God.”
Circumcision Marks the Alliance
“You and your descendants will need to keep this alliance throughout your generations. As a sign of our alliance, you and all your male descendants will need to be circumcised by cutting off the flesh of your foreskins. Throughout the generations, all your males need to be circumcised when they turn 8 days old. Even circumcise your workers who are born into your household or are purchased from someone outside the family. That way, our alliance will be marked on your bodies forever. If the flesh of a male’s foreskin isn’t cut off, then that person will be cut off from his people for disregarding my alliance.
God Renames Sarai
“And your wife’s name won’t be Sarai anymore [which means “princess.”].From now on, her name will be Sarah [which means “noblewoman.”] I will bless her by giving you a son with her. Then I’ll bless her some more as she becomes the matriarch of entire countries. The kings of entire nations will come from her.”
Abraham Laughs
As Abraham continued to lay face-down, he laughed and thought to himself,
“Can a 100-year-old man even become a father? How will Sarah become pregnant at 90 years old?”
Assuming God was talking about Ishmael, Abraham said out loud,
“My hope is that Ishmael would live his life for you!”
God Promises Sarah a Son
But God said,
“No, your wife Sarah will become pregnant with your son. You can name him Isaac [which means “he laughs.”] I’ll establish an alliance with him that will remain in tact with his descendants.
“I hear your hope for Ishmael’s life, and I will bless him. He will prosper and multiply abundantly. He’ll become the patriarch of 12 leaders, and I’ll turn him into a significant people group. But my alliance will be made with Isaac, who Sarah will give birth to this time next year.”
After God finished talking with Abraham, he vanished upward.
Abraham Circumcises Males
That same day, Abraham gathered all the males who were in his household and cut off the flesh of their foreskins just like God had instructed him. This included his son, Ishmael, all the male workers he had purchased, and all the male workers who had been born into his household. Abraham was 99 years old when he cut off the flesh of his foreskin, and Ishmael was 13. All of them were circumcised on the same day.