And so, God moves on with His preparation of the man who would become the father of His chosen nation. Undaunted by Abraham’s failure, He begins the next phase of Abraham’s growth in faith and obedience. With the memory of the years of pain his unbelief had brought into his family, Abraham listens carefully to every detail of God’s instructions, determined, this time, to stick to the plan.

‭Genesis‬ ‭17:1‭-‬8‬ ‭NLT‬
[1] When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. [2] I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.” [3] At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him, [4] “This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! [5] What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. [6] I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them! [7] “I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. [8] And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.”

“El Shaddai” is an unusual name for God. He uses this title to cement His promises and the covenant He cut with Abraham years before. We must remember that the sequence of chapters in the Bible disguises the interval of years between God’s revelations to Abraham. Many years had passed in which Abraham had opportunity to live out the life God had revealed to him.

Oh yes! El Shaddai! The two letters of el, of course in ancient Hebrew, an ox head and a shepherd’s staff, convey the idea of the mighty one who has authority. “Shaddai” ‭is made up of two pictures, two teeth and
the curtains in the tent that hang down from a rod to form the door of the tent. What did Abraham see in his mind’s eye?

Two things that dangle. What came to mind from that mental picture? The two teats of the goat’s udder. What did the goat’s udder do? It provided nourishment for its offspring! So, what did El Shaddai mean to Abraham? “I am the powerful one who has authority and I will nourish (take care of and provide for) you.” What a revelation and what a promise!

Two requirements… serve me faithfully and live a blameless life! How did Abraham interpret those instructions? God would flesh out His teachings centuries later to Ahraham’s descendants at Mount Sinai. For now, it was enough that he stick with God and not get involved with the wicked, idolatrous Canaanites. God’s moral requirements were already written on his conscience, as with all people.

The ratification of God’s covenant was to be a physical sign, written in the bodies of every male descendant of Abraham, circumcision.

‭Genesis‬ ‭17:9‭-‬13‬ ‭NLT‬
[9]”Then God said to Abraham, “Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant. You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility. [10] This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised. [11] You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you. [12] From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased. [13] All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of my everlasting covenant.”

Despite Abraham’s attempt to rationalise the promise of a son through Sarah by offering Ismael instead, God was adamant. No, not Ishmael by Hagar. Sarah’s age and barren state was no obstacle to Him. Abraham had to ramp up his faith to believe in the birth of a baby through two barren old people!

‭Romans‬ ‭4:17‭-‬19‬ ‭NLT‬
[17] That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. [18] Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” [19] And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.”

Fortunately, God’s perspective is different from ours. We would have censured Abraham for doubting God’s promise, but not God. He saw the end and considered Abraham’s faith acceptable and secure.

‭Romans‬ ‭4:20‭-‬22‬ ‭NLT‬
[20]”Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. [21] He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. [22] And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.”

And so, Abraham takes, another leap of faith by circumcising every last male in his household.

‭Genesis‬ ‭17:26‭-‬27‬ ‭NLT‬
[26]”Both Abraham and his son, Ishmael, were circumcised on that same day, [27] along with all the other men and boys of the household, whether they were born there or bought as servants. All were circumcised with him.”

No one escaped the knife that day!

To be continued….