GENESIS
CHAPTER
17
1. When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, " I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 1)
In contrary to the evil one God does not fear to share his identity. During the rite of exorcism, the evil spirit when it is compelled to reveal its name. However God reveals himself personally to us, and like in the case of Abram seeks to have a relationship with us. God wants us to walk before him and not behind him. If we walk before him he can give us the extra push in time of desolation and put us back on track. Moreover when walking before Him we can be witnesses to him and the work of revealing God to humanity. On the other hand God wants us to be blameless. It is only with God's support that we can withstand the temptations of the evil one.
2. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous."
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 2)
As in previous chapters God promises Abram to make of him a multitude of people, or a great nation, however up to this point, God still had not given him the son from which the line of descent would actually have its roots from. However God sees the big picture and has perfect timing that does not always synchronise with human timing.
3. Then Abram fell on his face, and God said to him, 4 "As for me, this is my covenant with you: Yo shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations.
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 3 and 4)
For some reason Abram fell on his face. This could be either in joy at having received the confirmation that he would father a son from his wife Sara, or a reaction of utter desperation, in reaction to God's repetitive declaration. For God had constantly promised Abram to make of him a great nation, however the son never emerged, save for Ishmael, who did not fill in the required specifications according to the will of God.
There are moments when we may also feel desperate, when waiting on God, because His timing is different from ours. I may utter, " Oh when will I return back to working as a social worker oh God, will I do so when I am 100 years old or even later?
However God assures me that if it is his will and if, it is for my good and that of my family (which I think its not the right time on both accounts) God in good time will answer my prayer. However at times no answer may be a negative as in my case. At times I feel assured that it is only my will but not that of God.
5. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.
(Genesis chapter 17 verses 5 to 6)
God promised Abram a change in name from Abram to Abraham meaning father of many. On reflecting before God made Abraham the father of one son, God made him the spiritual father of all Christians for being sons, of God makes us also sons of Abraham. In this sense the Church of God that is Abraham's line of descent remains active to this very day.
7. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their God."
(Genesis chapter 17 verses 7 to 8)
God promises to make an everlasting covenant with us. He wants to be our God if only we listen to His voice and accept Him in spirit and in truth as our 'Almighty God and father'. Before leaving earth Jesus Son of God and God Himself promised us a place in heaven that He was to prepare for us. Therefore as in the case of Abraham God always keeps his promise however, in order to help strengthen our faith God gives us occasions such as Easter and Christmas where we can confirm His promise of our salvation.
9. God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 9)
As a loving father and parent God wishes us to keep our commitment with Him forever. This promise binds also our ancestors and those following forever.
10. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 10)
A covenant is an agreement that can be held between two or more persons. In our case God's covenant has been with the whole world meaning past, present and even future generations, up to the end of time.
11. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 11)
God ordered Abraham to make a wound in a delicate part of his body, which at Abraham's age was a very painful experience because at his age, the skin would be very hard to penetrate. God wanted to has his covenant engraved physically on our persons, however later on in God's Word we find written that God's covenant is to be engraved in our hearts and spirit more than in our flesh.
12. Throughout your generation every male among you shall be circumcised when he is eight days old, including the slave born in your house and the one bought with your money from any foreigner who is not your offspring. 13 Both the slave born in your house and the one bought with your money must be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.
(Genesis chapter 17 verses 12 to 13)
The wound of the incision made by the act of circumcision would serve as a reminder between God and humanity and vice versa forever. In time the Roman Catholic Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God adopted the rite baptism in order to introduce new Christians in the Church who would also be eligible for the same reward that is heaven, and bound by the same covenant.
14. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant."
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 14)
In fact the rite of circumcision and baptism is so important that without it in the case of baptism, one cannot be accepted as a member of the Roman Catholic Church.
15. God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 15)
Our names reflect, our selves, meaning our personal identity, therefore a change in our name reflects other changes taking place in our inner and or outer circles. Both Abram and Sarai had, had their names changed by God. In turn both were given a special mission to fulfil, that of being the parents of a new nation descending from their flesh through which God had planned to send his only Son to fulfil the plan for the salvation of the world.
16. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her."
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 16)
Moreover God even included Sarah in his promise. Although she was technically incapable of bearing offspring, God promised Abraham that He would thwart the natural course of nature, in order to make His way possible and His plan unfold.
17. Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to himself, "Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah who is ninety years old bear a child?"
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 17)
Although as Christians we profess that we believe in God and the Roman Catholic Church when we come to the moment of truth as in the case of Abraham and Sarah, our belief may not be so strong as we may consider it to be. Abraham who is held as being the father of Christian faith also showed doubts in relation to the fulfilment of the will of God in his life.
18. And Abraham said to God, "O that Ishmael might live in your sight!"
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 18)
Abraham considered the other option, that of obtaining God's promise through Ishmael, instead of through the son that God had promised him. Instead of stating his unbelief in the possibility of ever bearing or fathering a child at his age, Abraham tried to bargain with God in a very polite way. At times we may also adopt this way of communicating with God in order to satisfy our wishes in order to fulfil our plans.
19. God said, "No, but your wife Sarah shall bear you a son, and you shall name him Isaac." I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 19)
It seems that when God is decided in His decisions nobody and or nothing on earth can persuade him to change his mind. God affirms time and time again that it is through Abraham and Sarah that His line of descent would take place. Even in our case when God decides that this course of action is not for our own good (my working as a social worker, which would create unnecessary stress in my family system) nothing on our behalf, not even prayer is enough to change the mind of God, who unlike humans, perceives the big picture with all the related positive, and negative consequences before giving His go ahead.
20. As for Ishmael, I have heard you; I will bless him and make him fruitful and exceedingly numerous; he shall be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 20)
God answers our prayers but not always in the way we plan them to be fulfilled. In order to try and persuade God to fulfil His plan through Ishmael, Abraham requests that the latter would become a great nation, as God had promised to Abraham's future promised son, however God realised the intention and responded only to part of Abraham's request.
God declared that indeed through Ishmael a great nation would be born, however the son of God's promise would still be born through Abraham and his wife Sarah.
21. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year." 22 And when he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.
(Genesis chapter 17 verses 21 to 22)
Although nature dictates that it is biologically impossible to bear children at Abraham and Sarah's age and condition, God goes against nature in order to make his plan unfold. Even in life God goes against human boundaries where and when necessary. These moments and or events are considered as being miracles that cannot be explained according to human criteria because they are the cause of God's intervention.
23. Then Abraham took his son Ishmael and all the slaves born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him.
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 23)
God's response to God's love is that of obedience to His will. No sooner had God left his presence, that Abraham dedicated himself to fulfilling the will of God, by undertaking the gory act of circumcision on himself, and then on all the men of his household as recommended my God Himself.
24. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised; 27 and all the men of his house, slaves born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
(Genesis chapter 17 verses 24 to 27)
In order to make a special emphasis, on Abraham's obedience the author of the book of Genesis chose to end chapter seventeen with a summarised repetition of verse twenty-three. Thus this shows the great value and significance of obeying the will of God. Even though we do not always understand the will of God in our lives, it is wise for us, to trust our wills and lives in God's custody and He will make what is impossible for us totally possible, if this is for our own good without resulting in harm for others.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer;
Oh God Almighty I would like to thank You for wanting me and my fellow persons, to walk in front of you. This means that you want us to put our trust in You and show our obedience and love to you.
Thank You also for welcoming me in to the Roman Catholic Church which is your presence on earth whether some believe it or not. Thank you for the gift of baptism. I would like you to help me in keeping your Holy Presence always in my heart and mind, so that we will always be united in both body and soul.
Thank you also for Christmas. Especially for making your presence felt and known to me. You are the greatest of gifts, that money cannot buy.
2. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous."
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 2)
As in previous chapters God promises Abram to make of him a multitude of people, or a great nation, however up to this point, God still had not given him the son from which the line of descent would actually have its roots from. However God sees the big picture and has perfect timing that does not always synchronise with human timing.
3. Then Abram fell on his face, and God said to him, 4 "As for me, this is my covenant with you: Yo shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations.
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 3 and 4)
For some reason Abram fell on his face. This could be either in joy at having received the confirmation that he would father a son from his wife Sara, or a reaction of utter desperation, in reaction to God's repetitive declaration. For God had constantly promised Abram to make of him a great nation, however the son never emerged, save for Ishmael, who did not fill in the required specifications according to the will of God.
There are moments when we may also feel desperate, when waiting on God, because His timing is different from ours. I may utter, " Oh when will I return back to working as a social worker oh God, will I do so when I am 100 years old or even later?
However God assures me that if it is his will and if, it is for my good and that of my family (which I think its not the right time on both accounts) God in good time will answer my prayer. However at times no answer may be a negative as in my case. At times I feel assured that it is only my will but not that of God.
5. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.
(Genesis chapter 17 verses 5 to 6)
God promised Abram a change in name from Abram to Abraham meaning father of many. On reflecting before God made Abraham the father of one son, God made him the spiritual father of all Christians for being sons, of God makes us also sons of Abraham. In this sense the Church of God that is Abraham's line of descent remains active to this very day.
7. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their God."
(Genesis chapter 17 verses 7 to 8)
God promises to make an everlasting covenant with us. He wants to be our God if only we listen to His voice and accept Him in spirit and in truth as our 'Almighty God and father'. Before leaving earth Jesus Son of God and God Himself promised us a place in heaven that He was to prepare for us. Therefore as in the case of Abraham God always keeps his promise however, in order to help strengthen our faith God gives us occasions such as Easter and Christmas where we can confirm His promise of our salvation.
9. God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 9)
As a loving father and parent God wishes us to keep our commitment with Him forever. This promise binds also our ancestors and those following forever.
10. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 10)
A covenant is an agreement that can be held between two or more persons. In our case God's covenant has been with the whole world meaning past, present and even future generations, up to the end of time.
11. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 11)
God ordered Abraham to make a wound in a delicate part of his body, which at Abraham's age was a very painful experience because at his age, the skin would be very hard to penetrate. God wanted to has his covenant engraved physically on our persons, however later on in God's Word we find written that God's covenant is to be engraved in our hearts and spirit more than in our flesh.
12. Throughout your generation every male among you shall be circumcised when he is eight days old, including the slave born in your house and the one bought with your money from any foreigner who is not your offspring. 13 Both the slave born in your house and the one bought with your money must be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.
(Genesis chapter 17 verses 12 to 13)
The wound of the incision made by the act of circumcision would serve as a reminder between God and humanity and vice versa forever. In time the Roman Catholic Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God adopted the rite baptism in order to introduce new Christians in the Church who would also be eligible for the same reward that is heaven, and bound by the same covenant.
14. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant."
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 14)
In fact the rite of circumcision and baptism is so important that without it in the case of baptism, one cannot be accepted as a member of the Roman Catholic Church.
15. God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 15)
Our names reflect, our selves, meaning our personal identity, therefore a change in our name reflects other changes taking place in our inner and or outer circles. Both Abram and Sarai had, had their names changed by God. In turn both were given a special mission to fulfil, that of being the parents of a new nation descending from their flesh through which God had planned to send his only Son to fulfil the plan for the salvation of the world.
16. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her."
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 16)
Moreover God even included Sarah in his promise. Although she was technically incapable of bearing offspring, God promised Abraham that He would thwart the natural course of nature, in order to make His way possible and His plan unfold.
17. Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to himself, "Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah who is ninety years old bear a child?"
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 17)
Although as Christians we profess that we believe in God and the Roman Catholic Church when we come to the moment of truth as in the case of Abraham and Sarah, our belief may not be so strong as we may consider it to be. Abraham who is held as being the father of Christian faith also showed doubts in relation to the fulfilment of the will of God in his life.
18. And Abraham said to God, "O that Ishmael might live in your sight!"
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 18)
Abraham considered the other option, that of obtaining God's promise through Ishmael, instead of through the son that God had promised him. Instead of stating his unbelief in the possibility of ever bearing or fathering a child at his age, Abraham tried to bargain with God in a very polite way. At times we may also adopt this way of communicating with God in order to satisfy our wishes in order to fulfil our plans.
19. God said, "No, but your wife Sarah shall bear you a son, and you shall name him Isaac." I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 19)
It seems that when God is decided in His decisions nobody and or nothing on earth can persuade him to change his mind. God affirms time and time again that it is through Abraham and Sarah that His line of descent would take place. Even in our case when God decides that this course of action is not for our own good (my working as a social worker, which would create unnecessary stress in my family system) nothing on our behalf, not even prayer is enough to change the mind of God, who unlike humans, perceives the big picture with all the related positive, and negative consequences before giving His go ahead.
20. As for Ishmael, I have heard you; I will bless him and make him fruitful and exceedingly numerous; he shall be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 20)
God answers our prayers but not always in the way we plan them to be fulfilled. In order to try and persuade God to fulfil His plan through Ishmael, Abraham requests that the latter would become a great nation, as God had promised to Abraham's future promised son, however God realised the intention and responded only to part of Abraham's request.
God declared that indeed through Ishmael a great nation would be born, however the son of God's promise would still be born through Abraham and his wife Sarah.
21. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year." 22 And when he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.
(Genesis chapter 17 verses 21 to 22)
Although nature dictates that it is biologically impossible to bear children at Abraham and Sarah's age and condition, God goes against nature in order to make his plan unfold. Even in life God goes against human boundaries where and when necessary. These moments and or events are considered as being miracles that cannot be explained according to human criteria because they are the cause of God's intervention.
23. Then Abraham took his son Ishmael and all the slaves born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him.
(Genesis chapter 17 verse 23)
God's response to God's love is that of obedience to His will. No sooner had God left his presence, that Abraham dedicated himself to fulfilling the will of God, by undertaking the gory act of circumcision on himself, and then on all the men of his household as recommended my God Himself.
24. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised; 27 and all the men of his house, slaves born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
(Genesis chapter 17 verses 24 to 27)
In order to make a special emphasis, on Abraham's obedience the author of the book of Genesis chose to end chapter seventeen with a summarised repetition of verse twenty-three. Thus this shows the great value and significance of obeying the will of God. Even though we do not always understand the will of God in our lives, it is wise for us, to trust our wills and lives in God's custody and He will make what is impossible for us totally possible, if this is for our own good without resulting in harm for others.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer;
Oh God Almighty I would like to thank You for wanting me and my fellow persons, to walk in front of you. This means that you want us to put our trust in You and show our obedience and love to you.
Thank You also for welcoming me in to the Roman Catholic Church which is your presence on earth whether some believe it or not. Thank you for the gift of baptism. I would like you to help me in keeping your Holy Presence always in my heart and mind, so that we will always be united in both body and soul.
Thank you also for Christmas. Especially for making your presence felt and known to me. You are the greatest of gifts, that money cannot buy.
THANK YOU GOD
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