Genesis 17:1-14
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 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.”
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 foreskins, 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.”
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 foreskins, 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.”
God called Abram to follow Him in sight of God in his thoughts and actions (walking before Him). Then God made His covenant agreement with the man and for his descendants who would be innumerable as previously promised. This agreement by God was to transform Abram (exalted father) into Abraham (father of many). God would make him fruitful to multiply, and Abraham was to live openly righteous in obedience for his part of the covenant. God then promised the covenant would be not only to Abraham, but also as an eternal agreement for all his offspring. God gave the promised land to them forever as well, which is why the Palestinians attempt to claim it now is in vain. The sign or seal of the covenant for Abraham and his descendants was the circumcision of the flesh, which later would be seen a a picture of the true cleansing of the heart (Romans 2:28-29, 4:11-12, Galatians 6:15, Philippians 3:3, Colossians 2:11) to obey out of love by grace. Those not circumcised were cast out from God’s people, cut off instead of cut back from the sin of disobedience (Galatians 5:11-12). Disobedience was the covenant deal breaker. For those who are not in Christ, disobedience to believing (Hebrews 3:19, John 3:36, 2 Thessalonians 1:8) the gospel of His work of grace likewise keeps them from entering into His new covenant.
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