Abram did not hear from God for 13 years after the birth of Ishmael. He was 99 years old and well passed the age of bearing children and first thing God says is he is Almighty ( El- Shaddai). Lord also commands Abram to be blameless & perfect. He did not say to try to be good or told him to retire at age of 99 instead he was told to continue perfecting his faith. You never retire from God’s work. So many of us give few years in ministry then we are ready to take it easy but as christian we are not to rest but continue to work and continue to grow as none of us reaches perfection which is what God demands. How are we to do this? By walking in faith and drawing strength from out almighty God.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty[a]; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 2 Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”
You might wonder why was God silent for so long? After all Abram is called the Father of faith. Do you find your self in similar situation? Maybe you have been praying for something or someone for long time and God is silent. Some may even feel God is not listening or he does not care but truth is far from that. Abram had to grow in his faith just like we have to take that journey of faith. When we plant a seed, it does not become a tree overnight. If you are building a home, you don’t pour cement in foundation and start building on top right away but you have to let it dry. Faith works in similar way, once seed has been planted, you continue to walk with Lord in faith. As Paul says, We walk by faith not my sight. Abram was growing in faith those 13 years, he believed God as we learned and he had no doubt in promises God had given him.
Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
Please take note of principal of covenant, it is one-sided. 24 times in Abrahamic covenant God says I WILL. In other words, it is all about GRACE. Our salvation is not because we are good or because we have lived a righteous life but rather it through grace of God and all that needed to be done is done my JESUS on cross. He took our sins on himself and shed his blood so we can be saved. All we have to do is believe ( trust) and accept him. If you are reading this and you have not given your life to Jesus, what are you waiting for? he is calling you? There is no sin he can not forgive and there is no one he can not save. He has done it all for you. Listen to the still voice of God and give your life to Jesus. This covenant was not just with Abraham but with generations to come ( Jewish Nation) and it was ever lasting. Just to reiterate the point as it is very important not only for us as individuals but as we look at the world geography today and political issues in middle east. First covenant is one sided ( his Grace), secondly, notice the people of covenant, thirdly, period of covenant. Covenant did not become null with destruction of temple and scattering of Jewish people in 70 AD as Arabs would like you to believe. No, it is an everlasting covenant. Lastly , notice the place of covenant, God promised Jews 300000 SQ miles. The most they have ever possessed is 10% of it during the time of Soloman but be assured time is coming where they will have it all. This is not my opinion but what is promised in Bible.
9 And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; 11 and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. 13 He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant
Circumcision like holy spirit is uncomfortable subject and many churches avoid these subjects.There is correlation between two subjects but very hard for me to convey the message through written word. For our purpose here, Abraham was asked to circumcise every male in his household. It was going to serve as reminder to people ( Jews) of the covenant made and reminder the God they serve. It was cutting of flesh and something that only parents, the man & his wife would know. It was private thing and Jewish man was reminded few times a day that he was different from others and he served true God. When he was intimate with his wife, she knew that he belong to God and heir of the covenant. Of course now this practice is not limited to Jews but for health reason, most of the male children are circumcised but throughout the history, Jews were ridiculed for this practice. Circumcision was an outward sign of inward faith just as baptism is for us. Remember, you are not saved or christian because you are baptized, you are baptized because you have accepted Christ. In today’s church this point is totally missed. In many places like India, Preachers go to villages and baptize people and then boast about how many people they converted. Christianity is not about taking baptism but rather walk with Christ in faith. It is a journey that last until the day you die.
16 And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!”
First time God says Sarah will be the mother of the promised son. Abraham laughs but it is not a laugh of doubt but rather joy. He just does not see how this is going to be possible. How do we know this? because God did not rebuke him. Late on in Gen 18 when Sarah laugh in Doubt, God rebukes her right away.Then as any father would do or what we do so many times, he provides a solution for God. He tells God to bless Ismael. He is basically telling God to bless his mess. So many time we just go on praying and telling God what to do. Oh God bless this and bless that and bless the other without knowing and not having a clue. God gives best to those who let him choose. Prayer is not giving God orders rather prayer is for self-examination and empowerment.
19 Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” 22 Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
Ishmael was not the child of promise therefore he could not be part the blessing and God once again says Sarah will be the mother of promised son Issac. Although the covenant will not be established through Ismael, God herd Abraham’s request and blessed Ismael. I just wonder how different the world would have been if Abraham did not ask blessing for Ismael.
23 So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him.
What a lesson for those of us who are parents and specially fathers. Ismael was 13 yrs old at this point, Abraham didn’t tell him to get circumcised but he did it himself. Instead of telling our kids you should go to church, fathers should take them. I have seen so many times where parents send their kids to Sunday school but they do not go to church themselves. As father, a parent you need to lead the way. I have so many parents who are so involved with kids regarding school work, making sure home work is done, are they getting good grades in school, Making sure they stay in communication with teacher but fail so miserably when it comes to spiritual teaching. Proverbs 1 : 7 says, Fear of the Lord is beginning knowledge. Provern 22: 6 says “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it”. As parents it very important we teach them the truth from young age. Also notice the obedience of Abraham, he did not wait few days but circumcised everybody on same day.
24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin
Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised. It would have been tempting for him to say that circumcise all the young man but I am old and I don’t need to do this but instead he submitted to it. Imaging if our pastor had same attitude? how many of them preach the word but do not follow it? Abraham led by example. It is so easy to talk about all the works we have done in past but Lord is interested in obedience now, no matter what age you are or how long you been a christian.
27 and all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
Abraham had complete faith in God. He circumcised all the men in his house that means they were incapciatated for few days. There were no men to protect his household or his livestock, yet Abraham trusted God to protect him. He also told all who worked for him that this is the faith i practice and if you going to work for me, this is the way it is going to be. As christian, we need to take a stand. In church or work wherever you are you should not allow certain things to go on. How different our churches would be if people took stand. Many of our churches have just become places of business and Like the Jewish leaders at the time of Jesus, church leaders will have to answer. Remember where ever you serve or work, you can’t change the heart but you can set the standard.
May the word of Our Almighty God bless you. Keep on growing in faith.
only savior jesus 