Abram to Abraham Sarai to Sarah Old Testament Lesson 15

Genesis 17 In Genesis 17 God reappears to Abram and informs him that he and his household must be circumcised. It had been 13 years since God’s last visit. Ishmael was now 13. Abram obeyed.

I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God."

God also changed Abram and Sarai’s names. Abram - Abraham Sarai - Sarah

Abram - Nobel father Abraham - Father of many nations Sarai - My Princess (Local) Sarah – Princess of nations, mother of kings (Global)

15 God also said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. 16 I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her."

Verse 17: Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?" 18 And Abraham said to God, "If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!"

Abraham fell face down laughing. Abraham would be a father again at 100. Sarah would be a mother for the first time at 90. Abraham was still looking out for Ismael.

Sarah would have Isaac. Isaac’s name means, “he laughs.” – I believe God enjoyed Isaac’s laughter enough to name the child as a memory of the announcement. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. V.19 Thus, the ONE SEED,Jesus, is eternally in covenant with us.

God did bless Ishmael. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. V.20

23 On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, 25 and his son Ishmael was thirteen;

On that day Abraham wanted that blessing enough to obey to the point of being in pain, and he put the rest of his house in pain. He wanted God to take care of his son Ishmael and to also care for his future promised children.

Many times we do not obey the voice of God just because we are going to be inconvenienced or embarrassed.

Jeremiah 7:23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

Romans 6:16 16Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?