Genesis 17:1-8
God appears to Abram when he is 99 years old.
3. Thirteen years after the Lord’s last recorded appearance
The Lord appears to Abram again.
Abram left Haran when he was 75 years old. (Genesis 12:4) Ishmael was born when Abram was 86. (Genesis 16:15-16).
He is now 99 years old when God appeared to him and reveals himself as God Almighty saying,
“I am God Almighty [El Shaddai]; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” (ESV)
Meaning of El Shaddai—Scholars and translators suggest a variety of definitions.
- “God (el) who (sa) is sufficient (day)” Kidner
- “El shaddai, I am God all-sufficient; fromshadah, toshed, topour out. I am that God whopoursoutblessings, who gives themrichly, abundantly, continually.” Clarke
- “. . . the Hebrew wordshad means “chest” or “breast.” It may have in mind the strength of a man’s chest (God Almighty) or the comfort and nourishment of a woman’s breast (God of Tender Care).” Donald Barnhouse
- “Shaddaicomes from the rootshadad, which means “to display power.” Leopold
- “Pantokrator, the Greek word that means, the one who has His hand on everything.” From The Septuagint, a translation of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek before Jesus’ birth.1
In my notes taken during our previous study of Genesis, I wrote the definitions “fully and perfectly adequate” and “the one to whom nothing is impossible!” Love it!
As noted above in iv concerning the root of El Shaddai, “it emphasizes God’s might over against the frailty of man. In Genesis it is used particularly in situations where people are hard-pressed and need assurance.”3
God reaffirms his covenant with Abram saying, I will, I will, I will—
- Multiply you exceedingly.
- Father of a multitude of nations.
- Your name will be Abraham (which means father of many nations. Abram means father of many.)
- Exceedingly fruitful
- Father of a multitude of nations (He promised this twice.)
- Make nations of you. (Promised again second time.)
- Kings will come from you.
- The covenant is between me and you and your offspring after you.
- An everlasting covenant
- God to you and to your offspring after you an everlasting covenant.
- Give you and your offspring the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession.
- I will be their God.
Abraham falls on his face in submission to his Almighty God, showing a heart of worship.
It took 25 years to learn that the God who called him out was the all-sufficient one. On their own, they could only produce a child of the flesh.
A changed life comes through relationship. God changed their names and their hearts.
On their own, they struggled to overcome flesh. God affirmed that he was not finished with them yet.
By God’s grace, Ishmael had twelve sons who became rulers. Today his descendants inhabit and control many countries, and they possess great wealth.
4. a. God wantedallof Abram, a total commitment.1
Be blameless, perfect (17:1)
From Strong’s Concordance—
תָּמִיםtâmîym,taw-meem’; fromH8552; entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth:—without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright(-ly), whole.
After the proclamation of His nameEl Shaddai, God then told Abram what was expected of him. It was first revelation and then expectation. This communicates the principle that we can only do what God expects of us when we know who He is, and we know it in a full, personal, and real way. The word blamelessliterally means “whole.” God wantedallof Abram, a total commitment.1
The Lord wasn’t saying be sinless. As we will soon read, Abraham still sinned, and God still fulfilled all his promises.
b. How is this possible?
Genesis 15:6 — “And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.”4
Matthew 5:43-48 — Jesus said, “be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
“love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you”
Philippians 2:13; 3:12, 15 —God is at work in us. He gives us the desire and the power to fulfill his purposes. We press on toward being like Jesus. If we get off track, God will reveal it to us.
Colossians 1:26-29 — Here’s the secret—”The mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it!” (TPT) That’s why we stay up late and get up early, contending to understand the mysteries and share them with everyone who will read what we write or listen to what we have to say.
5. Genesis 17:4-8
Following each tangible encounter with God, Abraham grew in faith and fellowship. It didn’t happen overnight. “It takes years of God’s work in them, years of almost mundane trusting in God, perhaps interrupted with a few spectacular encounters with the LORD.”1
God revealed a new, powerful part of his identity—”I AM the one for whom nothing is impossible!”
For all these years, Abram (father of many) lived with a name he and Sarai couldn’t live up to, and now God changes his name to “father of many nations!”
God also confirms and reconfirms the covenant, the descendants, the land, and more.
He didn’t say, “If you will, then I will.”
He said, “I will, I will, I will!”
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Resources
4 New Living Bible Translation*
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture taken from public domain WEB translation.
My answers, research, and notes for BSF Bible Study Fellowship questions Genesis Lesson 11 day 2 ,
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