Genesis Chapter 17
(Matthew 16:23)
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
(Genesis 17:1)
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
- There is no real indication that God spoke to Abram the last four years.
- Now He is not just speaking; but appearing once again (Genesis 12:1)
- At least he appeared to have no more children with Hagar.
- This is the first use of El Shaddai, or "Almighty God", something Abram needed to hear
- Abram is 99 years old here, ensuring he and Sarai were past their childbearing years
(Genesis 12:6-7)
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
- A quick Scriptures study of Israel reveals some interesting repetitions by God to Abraham and his offspring.
- They had many of them, but these five are the major ones.
- Each is still in force, and that forever.
- SEED
- LAND
- BLESSING
- COVENANT
- NATION
ABRAHAM
(Genesis 12:7)
And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. (Genesis 17:4-6)
As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
(Genesis 21:12)
And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
(Genesis 22:17)
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
ISAAC
(Genesis 26:4)
And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
JACOB
(Genesis 28:14)
And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
LAND: FOREVER
ABRAHAM
(Genesis 15:18)
In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
(Genesis 17:8)
And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
ISAAC
(Genesis 26:3-4)
Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
JACOB
(Genesis 28:13-14)
And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
BLESSING
ABRAHAM
(Genesis 12:2)
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
(Genesis 12:3)
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
(Genesis 22:17)
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
ISAAC
(Genesis 26:3)
Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
(Genesis 26:24)
And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.
JACOB
(Genesis 28:3-4)
And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.
(Genesis 28:14)
And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
COVENANT
(Genesis 17:2)
And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
GREAT NATION
(Genesis 12:2)
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
(Genesis 12:3)
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
(Genesis 46:3)
And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
MATTHEW HENRY: 1-6 The covenant was to be accomplished in due time. The promised Seed was Christ, and Christians in him. And all who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abram, being partakers of the same covenant blessings. In token of this covenant his name was changed from Abram, "a high father," to Abraham, "the father of a multitude." All that the Christian world enjoys, it is indebted for to Abraham and his Seed.
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(Genesis 17:2)
And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
- God repeats the covenant promise
- It is again uni-lateral...."I will make" vs. "We will make"
And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
- Again, had this been an angel, he would have been instructed to stand back up
- Abram had a spoken Word of God, we have the final Written Word of God
- God spoke to him audibly; He speaks to us through His Word today
(Genesis 17:4-5)
As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
- Abram="Exalted Father"
- Abraham="Father of Many Nations"
- "Have I made thee" indicates that God does not dwell in time and see the fulfillment already.
Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham;
(Genesis 17:6)
And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
- The lineage of the King of Kings includes the kings of the Old Testament
- In the secular world, it also includes the Royal House of Saud today, through Ishmael, the child of the flesh
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
- The covenant is not just with Abram, but with his seed after him.
- It is further an everlasting one, as long as there is time and eternity
- It does not die with Abram. As long as there is an Israel, there is this covenant
- God is Israel's God forever, despite their obedience, faith or lack thereof. THis was an unconditional, unilateral covenant
- There is and was always a remnant, despite their history
And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
- The land is promised forever to them
- God immediately repeats that He is their God
And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
- "Keeping" the covenant meant not physical works, but possession
This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
- This is the "Covenant of Circumcision"
- This circumcision was not practiced by any nations at all until this time
- This would ensure that Israel would be distinct, recognizable
- The circumcision of the heart was what God really intended to accompany this one in the flesh
- It is important to know that, although Ishmael was also circumcised, the covenant did not extend to him.
For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
JEWISH CIRCUMCISION TODAY
(Genesis 17:11)
And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
- The token is a sign, evidence
TOKEN, n. to'kn. [L. signum, dialetically varied, or from the same radix.]
- A sign; something intended to represent or indicate another thing or an event. Thus the rainbow is a token of God's covenant established with Noah. The blood of the paschal lamb, sprinkled on the doors of the Heb`rews, was a token to the destroying angel of God's will that he should pass by those houses. Gen 9. Exo 12.
- Show me a token for good. Psa 86.
- A mark. In pestilential diseases, tokens are livid spots upon the body, which indicate the approach of death.
- A memorial of friendship; something by which the friendship of another person is to be kept in mind.
- In coinage, tokens were coins struck in the reign of Elizabeth in the cities of Bristol, Oxford and Worcester, and also by private persons, which were put into circulation, and upon being returned, the issuer gave the value of them in current money.
- In printing, ten quires of paper; an extra quire is usually added to every other token, when counted out for the press.
_____________________________
(Genesis 17:12)
And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
- There is a medical reason for "on the eighth day"
- The reason could not have been known to Abraham, since he would have had to do studies. There were no study subjects outside of Ishmael and himself.
- It can be found here.
He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
- The household of Abraham was a covering for the servants as well
- If they were Jewish or Jew-ISH, they got circumcised.
- A covenant in the flesh is an unmistakable sign and reminder to themselves whenever they relieved themselves or bathed, possibly even one for captors if they were prisoners of war and stripped naked. You cannot deny you are circumcised once exposed. It is simple to check.
And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
- This was apparently very serious to God, to be this separated physically in one's own private parts.
- The foreskin was put there originally by God-something HE could have avoided, making all men the same from birth to the grave
- Jews sought constantly a sign from God
- This was a covenant unlike the first. It was bi-lateral, and Israel was to keep her half.
And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
Luke 21:7
And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
John 2:18
Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
Genesis 17:15)
And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
John 6:30
They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
Genesis 17:15
And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
- Sarai means "my princess" (as in one of many, generic)
- Sarah means "a princess" (the only princess or all princes)
- She is like the "mother of all Christian women" today
Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
(Genesis 17:16)
And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
- Sarah's blessing from God is not the same as the nations and kings of people
- Spiritually speaking and for Israel, this would end up being war for thousands of years, because of Ishmael's descendants.
- It is more like she will be blessed..........AND she will be the mother of
Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
- Does Abraham get another bout of the "weak kneed faith", as evidenced by his falling down and laughing and, finally, questioning?
- No, it appears from the context of Scripture that his laughter may be from faith, and joy
- He saw Jesus Christ through faith in this future promise, as we do today, from this past fulfilled two promises, both Isaac Abraham's son and the LORD Jesus Christ, God's Son.
- Romans 4:20 says that he did not stagger, which means he knowingly, deliberately obeyed his wife out of pleasing her MORE than pleasing God.
- He just needs to hear it again
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
(Romans 4:20-24)
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; **************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** (Genesis 17:19)
And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
- This is the first mention of the name "Isaac".
- His name means.....drum roll please....(cymbal) laughter!
- This shows that God has a sense of humor.
- It is like God said, "You gave me laughter, now I will give you, Sarah and the whole world laughter!"
- The covenant of circumcision was extended here to Isaac, even though Ishmael was ordered to be circumcised with Abraham
- The other eternal covenants for the nation of Israel, including the Messiah, pass through Isaac also
And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
- Ishmael is essentially the innocent party, and so God blesses him
- He indeed did have many, many descendants, princes, etc.
THE TWELVE PRINCES OF ISHMAEL
(Genesis 25:13)And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah: These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.
- Nebajoth: Esau married his daughter Mahalath, he is possible the Nabateans, later the Edomites.
- The Nabateans/Edomites possibly settled from Yemen Damascus, and west of Iraq to the Sinai Desert
- The Nabateans/Edomites could write-even the shepherds, but left few writings. Possibly they were conquered and all of their writings destroyed. They were definitely nomadic herdsmen.
- Kedar, possibly the Arabs
- Seir is the home of the Edomites
- History and archaeology is vague on these princes, but the Bible is possibly not 100% silent. They would have been the Arab nations.
- They were often described as Bedouins, nomads
THE ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS
When the lad was grown up, he married a wife, by birth an Egyptian, from whence the mother was herself derived originally. Of this wife were born to Ismael twelve sons; Nabaioth, Kedar, Abdeel, Mabsam, Idumas, Masmaos, Masaos, Chodad, Theman, Jetur, Naphesus, Cadmas. These inhabited all the country from Euphrates to the Red Sea, and called it Nabatene. They are an Arabian nation, and name their tribes from these, both because of their own virtue, and because of the dignity of Abraham their father.
KEDAR
(Isaiah 21:17)And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.
(Isaiah 60:7)
All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.
(Jeremiah 49:28)
Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east.
(Ezekiel 27:21)
Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants.
DUMAH
(Isaiah 21:11)The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
GENERATIONS OF ISHMAEL
(1 Chronicles 1:29-33)These are their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael. Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons of Keturah.
(Genesis 28:9)
Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.
Kedar: Northern Arabians, living in black-haired tents (Song Solomon 1:5)
Under judgment by God
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(Genesis 17:21)
But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
- God repeats the covenant, which emphasizes it is Isaac
And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
- God obviously sees that Abraham gets it.
And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.
- Abraham was the example.
- "If the boss get circumcised........well then, I guess I should"
- Apparently Abraham bought and sold his workers
And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
- Ninety years old, gets circumcised, still no Isaac.
And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
- Though not the child of promise, he was the child of Abraham
In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.
- Obedience and acceptance of the promise
And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.
- That is a perfect record.
- "Born in the house" denotes they had their parents as servants
- "Bought with money of the stranger" means just that; he purchased employees
- With Abraham's faith witnessed by these servants, it wa natural to follow him in this act
- Abraham this time does not ask questions as to when or how, seeing he had no seed as of yet.
- This would not be questions about promises either. It would be questions about P-A-I-N!
- Perhaps he is getting it. Perhaps Ishmael is now recognized as being the child of the flesh
- Perhaps Isaac is now recognized as being the child of the promise
And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
Duis mi elit, aliquet id euismod egestas, venenatis sit amet lectus.