March 28, 2017
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Reading along with us in Genesis? Here’s today’s reading:
Genesis 17 (ESV)
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, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you… Continue Reading
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In the previous chapter, Hagar bore Abram a son whose name was Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six when he was born (Genesis 16:15-16). Genesis 17 opens with the Lord appearing to Abram thirteen years later when Abram was ninety-nine years old and tells him the promises He made in Genesis 15 are about to be fulfilled.
First, God identified Himself as “God Almighty” and then gives Abram two commands: to “walk before Me” and “be blameless” (Genesis 17:1).
Why should Abram walk before God and be blameless? Genesis 17:2 says so that God “may make My covenant between Me and you and multiply you greatly.”
Abram’s response? He fell on his face! I wonder if this is because he took a step to walk before God?
Then God tells Abraham what this covenant between them is, what He will do and what Abraham must do on his part. After God left, that very day, Abraham did as God commanded him.
This is what it looks like to “walk before God and be blameless.”
I think what struck me the most this morning was just the intimacy between God and Abram. To walk together, the way Abram talked with God, how he listened, then questioned… you can see the personal nature of their relationship.
Sweet fellowship with God. It is sweet that both Abram and later Sarah laugh at the idea of a baby in their old age and that Isaac means laughter! Everlasting covenant from God established with Isaac, and God shows His compassion by hearing Abraham’s plea for a blessing on Ishmael as well.
I admire Ishmael’s giving nature and obiedence to the word of God. To have what was promised to him by God and then have it given to Issac without reprisal is laudable.