Lesson 41

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Bible Study 1 - Genesis 17

 

Series # 4:             FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FAITH

Lesson 41:            Genesis 17.1-27  THE ALL LOVING GOD OF AN EVERLASTING COVENANT


Genesis 17:1-27(KJV) “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.  2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.  3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.  5 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.  6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7 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.  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.  9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.  10 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.  11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.  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.  13 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.  14And 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. 15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.  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.  17 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?  18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!  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.  20 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.  21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.  22 And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham. 23 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.  24 And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.  25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.  26 In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.  27 And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.”

 

These Hebrew scholars have translated the scriptures in a modern language format that make the it easier for the reader to understand the text in a way that is true to the Word and reliable for study.  I just wanted to share this with you as a help in this study.

 

Exegetical Consultants for “(The Message Translation) Old Testament” Robert L Hubbard Jr. Chairman North Park Theological Seminary, Robert L. Alden Chairman Denver Seminary, Richard E. Averbeck Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Bryan E. Beyer Columbia Bible College, Lamar E. Cooper Sr. The Criswell College, Peter E. Enns Westminster Theological Seminary, Duane A. Garrett Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Donald R. Glenn Dallas Theological Seminary, Paul R. House Wheaton College, V Philips Long Regent College, Tremper Longman III Westmont College, John N. Oswalt Wesley Biblical Seminary, Richard L. Pratt Jr. Reformed Theological Seminary, John H. Walton Wheaton College, Prescott H. Williams Jr. Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Marvin R. Wilson Gordon College New Testament, William W. Klein, Chairman Denver Seminary, Darrell L. Bock Dallas Theological Seminary, Donald A. Hagner Fuller Theological Seminary, Moisés Silva Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Rodney A. Whitacre Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry, Stylistic Consultants- Jacqueline Blakely, Thomas Raabe, Luci Shaw.

 

Genesis 17:1-27(TMSG) (The Message Translation)

“1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, God showed up and said to him, “I am The Strong God, live entirely before me, live to the hilt!  2 I’ll make a covenant between us and I’ll give you a huge family.” 3 Overwhelmed, Abram fell flat on his face. Then God said to him,  4 “This is my covenant with you: You’ll be the father of many nations.  5 Your name will no longer be Abram, but Abraham, meaning that ‘I’m making you the father of many nations.’ 6 I’ll make you a father of fathers—I’ll make nations from you, kings will issue from you. 

 

7 I’m establishing my covenant between me and you, a covenant that includes your descendants, a covenant that goes on and on and on, a covenant that commits me to be your God and the God of your descendants.  8 And I’m giving you and your descendants this land where you’re now just camping, this whole country of Canaan, to own forever. And I’ll be their God.” 9 God continued to Abraham, “And you: You will honor my covenant, you and your descendants, generation after generation.  10 This is the covenant that you are to honor, the covenant that pulls in all your descendants: Circumcise every male.  11 Circumcise by cutting off the foreskin of the penis; it will be the sign of the covenant between us.  12 Every male baby will be circumcised when he is eight days old, generation after generation—this includes house-born slaves and slaves bought from outsiders who are not blood kin.  13 Make sure you circumcise both your own children and anyone brought in from the outside. That way my covenant will be cut into your body, a permanent mark of my permanent covenant.  14 An uncircumcised male, one who has not had the foreskin of his penis cut off, will be cut off from his people—he has broken my covenant.”

 

15 God continued speaking to Abraham, “And Sarai your wife: Don’t call her Sarai any longer; call her Sarah.  16 I’ll bless her—yes! I’ll give you a son by her! Oh, how I’ll bless her! Nations will come from her; kings of nations will come from her.” 17 Abraham fell flat on his face. And then he laughed, thinking, “Can a hundred-year-old man father a son? And can Sarah, at ninety years, have a baby?” 18 Recovering, Abraham said to God, “Oh, keep Ishmael alive and well before you!” 19 But God said, “That’s not what I mean. Your wife, Sarah, will have a baby, a son. Name him Isaac (Laughter). I’ll establish my covenant with him and his descendants, a covenant that lasts forever.

 

20 “And Ishmael? Yes, I heard your prayer for him. I’ll also bless him; I’ll make sure he has plenty of children—a huge family. He’ll father twelve princes; I’ll make him a great nation.  21 But I’ll establish my covenant with Isaac whom Sarah will give you about this time next year.” 22 God finished speaking with Abraham and left.

 

 23 Then Abraham took his son Ishmael and all his servants, whether houseborn or purchased—every male in his household—and circumcised them, cutting off their foreskins that very day, just as God had told him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised.  25 His son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised.  26 Abraham and Ishmael were circumcised the same day  27 together with all the servants of his household, those born there and those purchased from outsiders—all were circumcised with him.”

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

Some fourteen years had passed since God last spoke to Abraham. Not since his disobedience in the matter of Hagar had Abraham heard the voice of God. The times of His silence are most devastating when they come our way. We need to learn that our disobedience almost always brings His silence.

 

In this passage, the Lord speaks again. When He does speak, it is to reveal even more of the details of His covenant with Abram. Here we have the opportunity to learn more about the faithfulness and work of God in the lives of His people. This passage allows us to catch a glimpse of THE ALL LOVING GOD OF AN EVERLASTING COVENANT. As we look into the details of this passage, we can take this opportunity to learn more about the God we serve. We may we be reminded that He is a God Who keeps His Word and works out His will "according to the counsel of His own will." The Bible says in Eph. 1:11, “…we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”

 

INTERPRETATION:

 

THERE IS GOD'S NEW REVELATION

 

THIS IS THE REVELATION OF HIS PERSON

“ 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.”

 

For the first time, God reveals Himself as "the Almighty God". This name is from the Hebrew name "El-Shaddai". It carries the idea of "Nourisher; Strengthener; Satisfier." It identifies God as being the "All-sufficient One". There is a tenderness in this name because the word "Shaddai" comes from the Hebrew word for "breast". Just as a baby receives strength and nourishment from its mother's breast, so the children of God receive all they need from the hand of the "Almighty God". Because God is "the Almighty God" He demands that His people walk before Him in "perfection". This is a command to walk in righteousness and holiness before Him. The Bible says in 1 Pet. 1:16, “…it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. ”

 

THIS IS THE REVELATION OF HIS PROMISE

“2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.  3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.” 

 

God simply reminds Abram of the promises He has made to him in the past. God will make of him a great nation and He will bless Abram. God's revelation and reminder causes Abram to fall at His feet in worship! Would to God the Lord's people would see His blessings as a catalyst to worship and praise. When v. 4 says "As for me" it indicates that this covenant is one-sided. God will bless Abram because He wants to! In other words, the covenant is good because it depends on God and not man! Thank God, our salvation is in His hands and not ours. The Bible says in 1st Pet. 1:5, “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

 

 

THIS IS THE REVELATION OF HIS PLAN

“ 5 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.” 

 

Here, Abram receives a name change. His name is changed from "Abram", which means "Exalted Father", to "Abraham" which means "Father Of A Multitude". The reason for this lies in the fact that God has made Abraham the father of a numberless multitude. Of course, to Abraham it does not appear that this is the case. However from God's perspective, it is a done deal! Notice the words "I have made thee." Even though Abraham couldn't see it, God had already completed His plan through Abraham.  Life is never like we think it is! All we can see are the obstacles and the trials that we face in life. However, God sees our present as well as the future that He has already accomplished. The essence of faith is merely walking in the present, holding in your hands the things God has placed in the future, Heb. 11:1! Whatever you may be facing this evening, God has already taken care of it for you. You merely have to be patient until you arrive at that time where His provision is manifested. Do you remember Elijah at the dry brook and the widow's house in  1 Kings 17.

 

It is no wonder Abraham worshiped the Lord! If we ever got a grip on all that He has done for us, we too would glorify Him in praise, adoration and worship The Great God our king.

 

EXPLANATION:

 

THERE IS GOD'S NEW REASSURANCE

 

THIS IS HIS REASSURANCE CONCERNING HIS FRUITFULNESS

 “6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.”

 

God promises Abraham Children, Crowds and Crowns. God promised him things that, at that moment in his life, he couldn't even imagine! It sounds like us doesn't it? Think of where He found us, what He has done in our life and where we are headed. Sounds too good to be true doesn't it? The farther I travel down this road, the sweeter His promises become to me! I am thankful that every single one is true! By the way, He will make our life fruitful for His glory if we will abide in Him. The Bible Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

 

THIS IS HIS REASSURANCE CONCERNING HIS FAITHFULNESS

“7 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.  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.”

 

God promises not only to bless Abraham, but his children and all the generations of Abraham's seed as well. This is a covenant that is as good as the Name of God and that will endure as long as God endures. Thank God that we can count on His faithfulness! The Bible says in Lamentations 3:22-23, “22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Thank God that He is faithful and true. He will not renege on His promises. He will not fail us. We may fall short, but He never will! He is ever faithful! God promises to be a personal God to the seed of Abraham. Friend, it is a blessing to serve a God that desires a personal relationship with the likes of you and me! I praise His name that our walk with Him does not hinge on what we do! It is personal and it is everlasting! What a blessing!

 

THIS IS HIS REASSURANCE CONCERNING HIS FUTURE

“15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.  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.  17 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?  18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!  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.  20 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.  21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.  22 And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.”

 

God's promise to Abraham is extended to Sarai also. She is to have this child of promise and she is to be the mother of multitudes. Her name is also changed from "Sarai", which means "My Princess" to "Sarah", which means "Princess". When Abraham hears this he laughs. It is not a laugh of doubt, but of joy at what the Lord is about to do in his life. He is so excited thinking about the power of God that he prayers for God to bless Ishmael also. This prayer is heard and answered by the Lord!  Here is a man who was looking at a bleak future when the day began. Now he is thrilled by the possibilities.

 

I just want to remind all of us that there is never any cause of hopeless when it involves the Lord. Your future is as bright as the size of your faith! When we involve God in the situations of our lives, the impossible becomes an immediate possibility. The Bible says in John 6:1-13, “1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.  2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.  3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.  4 And the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.  5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?  6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.  7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.  8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him,  9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?  10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.  12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.  13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.” Remember the God we serve holds today and tomorrow in His hands, and He is greater than both!


APPLICATION:

 

THERE IS GOD'S NEW REQUIREMENT

 

THIS IS THE NATURE OF THIS REQUIREMENT

“ 9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.  10 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.  11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.” 

 

Here, Abraham and all his descendants are required to be circumcised. They were to be identified as followers of the Lord by a mark in their bodies. Submitting to circumcision was a statement that "this person is part of the Abrahamic covenant, and the promises of God are his." This mark was both painful and private. Whether anyone else knew of it or not, the person circumcised and the Lord knew about it. You and I are not required to do this to be followers of the Lord today. However, the New Testament speaks of a "circumcision of the heart" that must be performed before a person can enter in to a personal relationship with Almighty God.

  1. The Bible says in Romans 2:28-29, “28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

  2. The Bible says in Galatians 5:6, “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”

  3. The Bible says in Colossians  2:11, “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:”

  4. The Bible says in Galatians 6:15, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.”

 

THIS IS THE NATIONALITY OF THIS REQUIREMENT

“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.  13 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. ”

 

Every male in the nation of Israel, whether they were young or old, bond or free were required to observe this rite, if they were to be allowed to be part of this covenant of promise. Without it, they were left out. While physical circumcision is not required for a relationship with the Lord, spiritual circumcision is! Without it, not person can ever hope to enter the presence of God, or go to Heaven when they die.  This is God's perfect, precious plan of salvation!

  1. The Bible says in John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

  2. The Bible says in John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

 

THIS IS THE NECESSITY OF THIS REQUIREMENT

“14 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.”

“23 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.  24 And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.  25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.  26 In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.  27 And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.”

 

Without being circumcised, no one could enter into this covenant relationship with the Lord. They were to be cut off from the people. They were out of the covenant. As has already been said, spiritual circumcision is necessary for a relationship with God. This is accomplished only through coming to Jesus Christ by faith. Many in our day think that rituals are still how one approaches God. Nothing could be farther from the truth!

WORKS CAN NEVER SAVE THE SOUL.

  1. The Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9, “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

IT TAKES FAITH TO PLEASE GOD, IT ALWAYS HAS AND IT ALWAYS WILL.

  1. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

IT TOOK FAITH TO FOLLOW GOD AND CARRY OUT THIS COMMAND, WHICH ABRAHAM DID WITHOUT HESITATION.

  1. The Bible says in Genesis 17:23-27, “23 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.  24 And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.  25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.  26 In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.  27 And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.”

Have you experienced that spiritual circumcision that forever changes your life and your destination?

CONCLUSION:

 

I am thankful that we serve a God Who is interested in His people. I am thankful that when we exercise minute faith in His Word, that He honors that with blessings which cannot be calculated for value. I wonder, what are you trusting Him for? Is there some dark spot on your today or on your future? Let me just remind you that we serve a God Who keeps His Word! What He has promised – that He will do! So, if there is anything bothering you or heavy on your heart about the past, present or future, take it to Him. Fall down before Him and worship Him like Abraham did and He will bless your life!

DO YOU NEED SOME HELP?

To find more help in receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior please go to the Bible Study Title Page “ETERNAL LIFE.” Please send me an email and let me know about any decision for Christ you make so that I may pray for you. Feel free to send me any questions, comments, or responses you may have as well. For those who are already Christians I invite you to also please let me know of any decisions you make in your Christian life for Jesus. Please send me your questions, comments, or responses and let me know if the Bible Studies are helping you.

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ALWAYS REMEMBER!

The support of your local Church ministry and the ministry of your Pastor should be the first priority of your Christian life and your service to the Lord. Be faithful to prayerfully prepare and attend Sunday School and Worship Service this Sunday and participate in worship as your Pastor preaches the Word. Do not forget to give the Lord at least your TITHE through your local church from your gross income – that is your first fruits. Any other other giving is an offering to a ministry unto the Lord. Honor the Lord in all you do and with all that you have. Always remember that everything you have and all you are belongs to the Lord. It is on loan to you – so manage it well! There will be an audit one day! Make sure the Books Balance!

 

All Bible Studies Are Prepared by Pastor Frank Denning And May Be Be Used By Permission.