God’s promises to Abram were numerous.
Genesis 12:1-3 I will make you a great nation
Genesis 15:5 Descendants as numerous as the stars
Genesis 17:1-2 I will multiply you exceedingly.
Why do you suppose that none of these promises are conditional?
Even though Abram demonstrated faith in God (15:6 – Abram believed God and He reckoned it to him as righteousness) what could have happened if God had made His promise of a great name conditional on Abram’s obedience to some command?
Genesis 17:3-8 Name Change
Abraham – Father of a Multitude. Father of Many Nations.
What do these verses say about the covenant? How long is it good for?
What can we learn about the Lord from these verses?
Genesis 17:9-14 God’s direction for Abraham
(Thomas Constable, Soniclight.org) There are three types of signs in the Old Testament. Some signs were proofs that convinced observers of something (e.g., the Egyptian plagues). Others were certain acts that resembled an announced situation (e.g., acted prophecies, Ezekiel 12:1-6). Still others were reminders of something (e.g., the rainbow, circumcision).
Circumcision was a fitting symbol for several reasons.
1. It would have been a frequent reminder to every circumcised male of God's promises involving seed.
2. It involved the cutting off of flesh. The circumcised male was one who repudiated "the flesh" (i.e., the simply physical and natural aspects of life) in favor of trust in Yahweh and His spiritual promises.
3. It resulted in greater cleanliness of life and freedom from the effects of sin (i.e., disease and death).
Genesis 17:15-19
The ratification of this promise was the change of Sarai's name into Sarah (v. 15), the same letter being added to her name that was to Abraham's, and for the same reasons. Sarai signifies my princess, as if her honour were confined to one family only. Sarah signifies a princess--namely, of multitudes, or signifying that from her should come the Messiah the prince, even the prince of the kings of the earth.
Prior to this section do you think Abraham was confused regarding who God would use to fulfill the Promise?
How did Abraham respond to the command to circumcise himself and everyone?
God directed Abraham in a way that He seemed confident that Abraham would obey.
God made promises to Abraham that took time to fulfill, time to understand, and were not what Abraham expected.
As we consider God’s promises, we shouldn’t be too quick to rush to our own conclusion about how and when they might be fulfilled.
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