Genesis

Genesis 17: God Almighty gives His covenant

Begin in prayer

Before we hear God Almighty give His covenant and call Abraham to walk before Him, let us listen with reverence. Ask Him to show us the grace that comes through Christ and to search every part of our lives.

The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant.

Psalm 25:14

Father in heaven, please open our eyes to understand Your covenant and the power behind Your promise. Show us Jesus, whose work brings sinners near to You. Make us more like Him, with hearts willing to walk in Your sight. Please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God appears to Abram at ninety nine, calls him to walk before Him and confirms His covenant of descendants, kings and land. He renames him Abraham because he will be the father of many nations. God commands circumcision for every male in the household, with exclusion for the uncircumcised male who breaks His covenant. He renames Sarai as Sarah and promises that she will bear the son of His covenant. Abraham laughs and asks for Ishmael, whom God blesses while naming Isaac as the covenant heir to be born the next year. Abraham then obeys that same day, taking the sign with Ishmael and all the men of his household.

As you read Genesis 17, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God Almighty gives His covenant and promises a son, calling His people to walk before Him.

Thirteen years after Ishmael's birth, God appears as the Almighty, whose power stands behind promises an aging couple cannot fulfill. His command to be blameless calls for an undivided life in His sight, given to a man He has already counted righteous. God changes Abram's name to Abraham, making the promise of many nations part of the name others will speak. The covenant's center is that He will be God to Abraham and his offspring, with the land given to people still living as strangers. Circumcision marks the household's males, including infants and servants, and the uncircumcised male is cut off from God's people for breaking His covenant. Paul explains that Abraham received this sign after righteousness had already been credited through faith (Romans 4 verses 10 to 12). The sign therefore confirms God's word without giving faith or a new heart to everyone who bears it. God also names Sarah and promises her a son, distinguishing His covenant through Isaac from the real blessings He gives Ishmael. The promise rests on God's choice and power, reaching its fullness in Christ and producing the obedience that Abraham gives that same day.

How does Genesis 17 show us that God Almighty gives His covenant and promises a son, calling His people to walk before Him?

God gives His covenant and calls Abraham to walk in His sight.

The Almighty begins with His own name and power, then tells Abraham to walk before Him and be blameless. Blameless means a whole life directed toward God, even though the man addressed has already sinned. Abraham receives a new name that repeats the promise of many nations, and God pledges to be God to his offspring.

God gives a covenant sign and warns of exclusion.

God gives a bodily mark called circumcision to every male in Abraham's house, beginning at eight days old. The uncircumcised male is cut off from his people, because he has broken God's covenant. Yet Abraham had already been counted righteous before he received the mark. Christ gives the righteousness faith receives, while the outward mark never produces the new heart sinners need.

God chooses the son of promise and Abraham obeys.

God names Sarah and promises that nations and kings will come from her. Abraham laughs and asks that Ishmael live before God, who promises him blessing while establishing His covenant with Isaac. Sarah will bear that son at the set time next year. The covenant line leads to Christ, and Abraham's same day obedience responds to grace already received.

Memorise

I am God Almighty. Walk before me, and be blameless.

Genesis 17:1

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what part of my life must I bring before Jesus instead of keeping it hidden?

God says, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me, and be blameless.” He gives the covenant, names the promised son and calls Abraham to live in His sight. The family needs His power to receive what He has promised.

We have failed to walk before God with undivided hearts, and no outward mark can remove our guilt. Paul explains that God's promise to Abraham's offspring reaches its fulfillment in Christ (Galatians 3 verse 16). Jesus lived blamelessly, then bore the punishment for His people's sin at the cross. The Father raised Him, and His completed work is enough to bring those who trust Him into peace with God.

Turn from using outward religion as a substitute for faith, and come to Jesus Christ. He forgives everyone who repents and believes in Him. If you trust Him, God's promise calls you to a whole life in His presence, with obedience growing from the grace He has given. The blameless Son receives those who come to Him and brings them near to God.

Parent's note

Tell your children what the covenant sign meant, explaining its bodily details in your own words from verses 10 to 14. Jesus bore His people's sin and rose again, giving forgiveness to everyone who repents and trusts Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for the covenant blessing received through Christ, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so invite each one to ask for faith and a heart that walks before God if they want to.

For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:26

Lord God Almighty, thank You for giving Your promise and sending the Savior who makes sinners right with You. Please turn each of us from outward religion without faith to trust Jesus. Give us whole hearts that walk in Your sight, and help us obey what You have spoken with gratitude this week. Amen.