Bible Basics: Genesis 17
Genesis 17
God's Goodness toward Abram and His Future Family
Verses 1–2: God appears to Abram (now ninety-nine years old) once again to confirm the covenant between them. He continues to call Abram to walk with him and live rightly, and reiterates his promise to give Abram numerous descendants.
3–8: Abram still greatly reverences God, and bows down in response to the reminder of God’s great promises and goodness to him. While recounting the details of their previous covenant (see Genesis 15), God adds reassurance that he will fulfill his promises to Abram by giving him a new name, Abraham, which means “father of many.”* Not only will his descendants be numerous, many of them will be royalty, including the Highest King of all—Jesus. God will extend this covenant to them, give them a land, a home, to call their own, and will care for them as he’s cared for Abraham.
Blessings Come through Obedience
9–14: God reminds Abraham that he and his descendants must continue to walk faithfully with him. The sign that sets them apart as God’s covenant people is circumcision, and every male belonging to Abraham’s “tribe” through birth or close association (e.g., servants) must undergo this ritual. Circumcision demonstrates a voluntary commitment to God and his ways. Those who refused it needed to leave the tribe—they were basically saying, “I’d like to live life on my own terms, I’m not interested in the life God intends for me or in belonging to him.”
15–16: God changes Sarai’s name as well. Sarah, meaning “princess” also confirms the covenant God is making with Abraham: she would be mother to many, and kings would descend from her.**
17–18: Despite God’s continuing assurance that Sarah will conceive, Abraham laughs at the prospect. He’s ninety-nine years old, and Sarah is eighty-nine, well past the age of childbearing. It seems inconceivable to him. “Just bless Ishmael, Lord, and I’ll be happy with that” (v. 18, author’s paraphrase).
All Things Are Possible with God
But the same God who created the universe and all that is in it, and made the first man from dust, had no problem fashioning a new life in Sarah’s womb. It’s easy to doubt God when his promises seem unbelievable, and when, in fact, their fulfillment isn’t humanly possible. But God is true to his word, so trust what he says and live by it; follow his lead, because “it is impossible for God to lie" (see Hebrews 6:13-20), and he's the maker of a million dreams come true.
19–21: God sees Abraham’s loving heart toward both sons, Isaac and Ishmael, and grants Abraham's request to bless Ishmael. The father of many descendants, Ishmael would also bear royalty: twelve rulers that would reign over much of the Middle East (including parts of modern-day Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait).***
However, Isaac would remain God’s chosen heir of promise. after revealing that Isaac's birth would occur within the year, God (who made a physical appearance here!) left Abraham.
23–27: Consistent with his character, Abraham obeyed God immediately, as in that day! Every male in his household was circumcised, demonstrating his wholehearted commitment to God.
*See NIV footnote on Genesis 17:5
** https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/sarah-sarai/
***http://www.jewishrootsofchristianity.ca/the-12-tribes-of-ishmael-and-their-land/