Journal Through the Bible: Week 7 Wednesday

Our latest blessing from the Lord (picture borrowed from my daughter's blog)

And God said unto Abraham, as for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also by her: Genesis 17:15-16a

Genesis 17:1-18:15

Does God make any promises in this passage? And if so, to whom? And do these promises apply to me?

• 17:2, 6 - God promised to multiply Abram's family greatly by making him the father of many nations.
• 17:5 - God changes Abram's name to Abraham to as part of His promise to him.
• 17:7 - God promises that His covenant with Abraham and his offspring will be an everlasting promise.
• 17:8 - God promises that Abraham's family would possess the land as an everlasting possession.
• 17:15 and 18:10 - God promised Sarai/Sarah a son!
• 17:19, 21 - God promised to establish His covenant with Isaac, the yet to be conceived son of Abraham and Sarah.
• 17:20 - God promised Abraham that He would bless Ishmael and would multiply his family greatly.

Are there any references to Jesus in this passage?

Jesus is the King of Kings that descends from Abraham and Isaac.

Are there any references to eternity or End Time events in this passage?

• God's covenant with Abraham and his offspring is everlasting. That the ratified covenant will exist throughout eternity.
• God's promise of an everlasting possession of the Promised Land means that they will retain ownership of it throughout eternity, which would mean on the New Earth also.

Does God issue any commands in this passage? If so, to whom?

• In 17:1 God appears to Abram and tells him to walk blamelessly before Him so that He can make His covenant with him. (Remember that God had made the promise to Abram in chapter 15 but Abram found his own manner of fulfilling it, as though God needed Abram's help!)
• In 17:9-14 God told Abraham to institute the rite of circumcision as a sign of their covenant agreement.
• In 17:15 God told Abraham to change Sarai's name to Sarah.
• In 17:19 God told Abraham to name the child that Sarah would bear "Isaac."