Study From the Book of Genesis,17

Study From the Book of Genesis,17

Today we study chapter 17 of the Book of Genesis. I choose two biblical principles and their lessons which are useful in Biblical Counselling.

From Abram’s perspective, God waited a long time to fulfil His promise. Abram was 75 years when he came to the land of Canaan. At 86 he became the father of Ismael.  The 13 years passed without a son from Sarai. Now God appeared for the fourth time to Abram. God used the name Shaddai for Himself for the first time that means He is able. As Enoch had walked with God, so Abram was commanded to walk before God with integrity.

Abram’s principial descendants are the Israelites, who are the centrepiece of biblical history and are the line from which the Saviour Jesus comes.   Abram’s name was changed to Abraham from the exalted father to father of many.

Abrahamic covenant is the foundation upon which all later divine covenants with God’s people are based. It is everlasting covenant that would last through all time. This covenant is linked to the land of Canaan that God promised Abraham’s descendants to inherit and to circumcise the males in Abraham’s house hold as a sign of the covenant. The name of Sarai was also changed to Sarah. Although her both names mean Princess, However the changed name means also a new relationship with God.  

Abraham plead to God to bless Ismael. Although God promised to bless Ismael, He confirmed that the child which is called by God as Isaac will be from Sarah. So, the father and the mother were named, the child was named, and the time was named. Abraham on the very day he received the command from God, he did as the Lord commanded. All the males of the household from little boys to aged men were treated alike.  

Structure

Verses: 1-27: the sign of the covenant.

Principle 28: verse 17:17---“Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, ‘shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah who is ninety years old bear a child?’”

Lesson 28: God promised Abraham at age 75 that would make him a great nation-and then made him wait a quarter of a century to fulfil that promise. But God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him

Principle 29: 17:23: -----“So Abraham took Ismael his son, all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him.”

Lesson 29: Abraham obeyed God, even when it caused personal discomfort and even it caused pain to his family. Because he believed God, he obeyed God. 28/12/2025.