Abraham - Genesis Chapter 17

When GOD commits (covenants) to do something – He will do it!

No matter HOW Impossible it seems and No matter what age you are. Do YOU believe Him?

1: No matter how old You are – You are NEVER too old to see GOD do something completely fresh in You and through You.

Try and put yourself into Abram’s shoes in Genesis Chapter 17. He is a 99 year old man with an 89 year old wife who have NEVER had children together.

Question; What does GOD have to say to this man? V1

‘I am GOD Almighty.’ – I am GOD All Mighty – All Powerful – All Sufficient.

What is humanly Impossible GOD can do, because NOTHING is Impossible with GOD.

Question: Are You struggling with something and feeling so helpless, almost hopeless, because there is NOTHING You can do?

It has to be GOD, because only GOD can do it. GOD is saying to Abram – TRUST ME in this Impossible situation – YOUR Impossible situation!

Second thing that GOD says v1, ‘walk before me and be blameless.’ The idea is NOT 100% pure, because None of us are that. The idea is more like complete wholehearted – single-mindedness. Wholeheartedly devoted to GOD. ‘Love the LORD your GOD with all your heart and soul and mind.’

Question: Does that describe YOU? Is that what YOU want to be – to do – to behave?

14 times in this One Chapter GOD says: ‘I will make you very fruitful. I will make nations of you, and kings and Royalty will come from you. I will bless Sarai, your wife. I will bless Isaac the son to be born. You will be father of many nations. Multitudes of people will come from you.’

GOD is going to do a NEW thing in Abram’s life. NOW, v3 Abram gets a new name ‘Abraham’. He is now the father of many nations – many people – may descendants.

Question: What fresh thing – what New things is GOD doing in your life today?

Question: Have You a story to tell of something that GOD has done in your life that is fresh?

2: God keeps HIS covenant to us and He calls us to respond in faith and trust to HIS promises – unbelievable as they might seem to us.

GOD calls Abraham to respond in faith v9, ‘As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come.’

Abraham as a 99 year old man enters by faith into this covenant of salvation in GOD and His Promises. GOD commands that Abraham take this mark of the covenant which is circumcision. V10, ‘Every male among you shall be circumcised. V11, ‘YOU – sign of the covenant. V12, ‘Every male 8 days old must be. V13, ‘Must be.’ This is NOToptional.

In the New Testament the sign of the Covenant of salvation changes from Circumcision to Baptism. Acts 2 v38-v39, ‘Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are a far off, for all whom the Lord our God will call.’

Two times in this Chapter, Abraham falls on his face in Worship and awe before the LORD v3 and v17.

Question: Can this really be true for Abraham? Can this really be happening?

Question: Does GOD really mean this, for Abraham and Sarah at this age and stage of their lives?

Only GOD could do such a miracle, a miracle child to be called Isaac v19, to a man 99 years of age and his wife of 89 years of age.

Question: What has God done afresh in your life that is so wonderful – so marvellous – so precious, that You are struggling to believe it? And HOW will You respond?