Genesis 16-17: Under the Knife

It becomes clear that both Abram (but we are going to call him Abraham from here on out) and Sarai (Sarah) are growing weary waiting for God to fulfill his promise of descendants for Abraham. I don’t blame them! They’ve waited a really really long time for this promise to happen. How often do we grow weary waiting for God to show up? How often do we resort to our own “ways” and take measures into our own hands to get the ball rolling? I mean, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I’d allow another woman to sleep with my husband to give us a child… but I do know that I’ve tried to handle matters that God clearly had control of, and my way failed miserably, caused more havoc than order, and just plain did not work out. I get it Sarah. And maybe I’m selfishly hoping that my vain efforts don’t result in generations and generations of wars and blood and huge world problems.

Oh man this passage makes me fall in love with God all over again.

I am the God-All-Powerful. Walk before Me. Continue to trust and serve Me faithfully. Be blameless and true. ² If you are true and trust Me, then I will make certain the covenant with you that I promised. I will bless you with a throng of descendants.

³ Abram bowed low, his face and body flat on the ground. (Gen 17:1-3)

I see God gently nudging Abraham. Hello? I. Am. GOD. Please fix your eyes on me. Trust me. And I promise promise promise to keep my covenant with you.

Abraham has the appropriate response.

And again, God restates his covenant to Abraham. And even more God gives both Abraham and Sarah their new names (which is Abraham and Sarah… I just made it confusing for everyone), and then assigns Abraham a covenant that he must keep. Every male that is a descendant must be circumcised. This was to be the sign of the covenant God gave Abraham and all of his family.

Pause. I’d just like to mention that Abraham was 99 years old. Um. Wow. And Ishmael was 13. And WHO KNOWS how old the slaves were. Dang. Ouch.

As we continue to journey through scripture together we will see many more laws that Israel had to keep in order to be righteous and pure before the Lord. What is most beautiful, is that when Jesus came and died and breathed his last breath saying “it is finished,” part of what was finished was the need for the Old Testament law in order to experience communion with God. He was the most perfect and ultimate sacrifice. It is through His death that we have oneness and communion with God.

It. Is. Finished.

Jews, Gentiles, male, female, children, sick, and sinners. Come.

Commune with Him. Worship him. Experience as a spotless bride His presence, His throne room, His goodness and mercy.

And Praise the Lord that at 99, men, you don’t have to get circumcised.