The Sealing of God’s Covenant
Text: Genesis 17
Core Idea: We’re called to trust God’s sufficiency even when promises seem delayed, live out of our new identity that shapes our mission, and remember Christ, who has sealed the covenant with His blood on the cross. Then, let’s live daily in the enjoyment of the covenant relationship with God, which is secure in Jesus Christ.
INTRODUCTION
Well, we’ve been walking through the Book of Genesis – tracing how God’s plan of salvation began. And last week, we saw Sarai taking matters into her own hands as she gave her servant Hagar to Abram – hoping to overcome her infertility. But her attempt to take control only revealed the idol of her heart, in that her desire to have a child had become the very thing she lived for – the thing she believed would give her meaning and purpose. No wonder her barrenness left her feeling like a nobody. So, Sarai mistreated Hagar until Hagar fled. Now, on the road toward Egypt, something remarkable happened to Hagar: The Lord found her – implying that God went looking for her. Abram didn’t go after her. Sarai didn’t care for her. But God did. He saw her and called her by name. To Abram and Sarai, she was just a slave. But to God, she was Hagar – He saw her for who she was. And yet, to our surprise, God told her to go back to Sarai and submit. At first glance, this could seem incredibly harsh because God was sending her back to the very place of pain she was running from. But God didn’t just send her – He sent her back with a promise. It’s as if He was saying, “Go back, but go back with Me. Go back, not as an abandoned slave, but as one who’s seen, known, and cherished by Me. I know it’s hard to understand right now, but My plans for you are good. So, trust Me, and I will bless you.” Now, when Hagar realized that the One who sees everything sees her too, that was all she needed to go back, for her astonishment of God had become her courage. Now, we won’t see Hagar again until Chapter 21. But this leaves us with another question: what about Abram? Chapter 16 ended with his failure of leadership, in that when Sarai suggested her plan, he should’ve said no. He should’ve reminded her of God’s covenant. He should’ve led her to wait for God. Instead, he abdicated his responsibility. So, rather than listening to God’s voice, he listened to Sarai’s reasoning – shaped by cultural norms rather than divine promises. And in doing so, he sinned against the Lord. That matters because in Chapter 15 Abram had feared this very thing. He worried that his failure could disqualify him from God’s plan. But to silence that fear, God had cut a covenant – walking through the pieces of slaughtered animals alone, as if to say, “If I fail, I will pay the price. And Abram, if you fail, I will still pay the price. I will be cut into pieces, but My promises to you will stand.” Well, now that Abram sinned, how will God respond? What will happen to the covenant? That’s what we’re going to find out today. So, with that in mind, please turn your Bibles to Genesis 17 – and I will read this for us.
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before Me faithfully and be blameless. 2 Then I will make My covenant between Me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” 3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 “As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” 9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10 This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner – those who are not your offspring. 13 Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.” 15 God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. 16 I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” 17 Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” 19 Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” 22 When He had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him. 23 On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, 25 and his son Ishmael was thirteen; 26 Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that very day. 27 And every male in Abraham’s household, including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him. Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
Let me share three things about God that we learn from this passage:
· THE GOD WHO IS ENOUGH
· THE GOD WHO GIVES A NEW IDENTITY
· THE GOD WHO MARKS HIS PEOPLE
1) THE GOD WHO IS ENOUGH
In verse 1, we read that Abram was 99 years old. Considering that Abram was 86 years old at the end of Chapter 16, 13 years have passed in just these two verses – and the assumption is that God had been silent during this time. This is really important to point out because, as you can imagine, 13 years is plenty of time for Abram to start wondering if his previous sin and failure to trust God had disqualified him from the covenant. Abram could’ve wondered, “Did I somehow do the impossible and disqualify myself from God’s promise? Could I have ruined the covenant? I know God said He would never abandon me – I even saw Him pass through that path. But why hasn’t He spoken for so long? Did He possibly move on to someone more faithful? It’s been 13 years since God spoke to me – it only makes sense that He did.” Those first years must have filled Abram with guilt and regret. And over time, it would’ve left him in a state of discouragement and resignation – believing that he had missed his chance with God, more so because Abram and Sarai were now much older. Listen to how Hebrews 11:12 describes Abram: “From this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.” He was as good as dead – which means that it was humanly impossible for God’s promise to come true. And it was in that moment, when it seemed like all hope was gone and their time had run out, that God appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty.” This is the first time God uses this name for Himself – El-Shaddai, which in Hebrew means the All-Powerful and All-Sufficient God. Then, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that God uses this name here because it’s perfect for the moment. It’s as if God were saying, “I am the One who can do the impossible and who can overcome every barrier. Abram, I haven’t forgotten you. I haven’t abandoned you. I was simply waiting for you to come to the end of yourself – so you would know that apart from Me, you can do nothing. I am enough for you.” Can you imagine the relief Abram must have felt? “Thank God He hasn’t given up on me. Thank God His promises still stand. Thank God His grace is greater than my sin.”
But notice what God says next – verse 1, “I am God Almighty; walk before Me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make My covenant between Me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” At first glance, that word “then” sounds conditional – “If you obey, then I’ll keep my covenant.” But this can’t be the case because in Chapter 15, God already bound Himself to Abram unconditionally. So, what does this mean? Think of the prodigal son in Luke 15. He never stopped being a son, but while he ran away, he couldn’t enjoy the father’s love or the blessings of home. Only when he returned did he experience the joy of sonship again. Abram’s obedience works like that. It doesn’t create the covenant relationship, but it enables him to enjoy the fullness of covenant blessings. It’s like marriage – we demand faithfulness not to restrict but to help the couple enjoy each other better. Now, this doesn’t mean that God was expecting perfection from Abram. But He did desire Abram to pursue a life of holiness – a life that was devoted to God. That’s what it means to walk before God. If “walking with God” highlights companionship, “walking before God” emphasizes reverence and accountability – it’s to live as though God sees every step of your life. To be “blameless” carries a similar idea in that God was calling Abram to sincere devotion. All that to say, Abram was to live every day in light of the One who said, “I am able. I am able to do immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine.” Then, we can see how powerful the promise in verse 7 is when He said, “I will be your God.” Donald Macleod said, “What did God say to Abraham? ‘I will be your God.’ What does that mean? It means that God is saying to Abraham, ‘I will be for you. I will exercise My God-ness for you. I will be committed to you.’ There is no way that can be improved upon! There is no more glorious promise: not in Romans, not in Hebrews, not in Revelation: nowhere! These words of the Abrahamic covenant have never been excelled and never will.” I want us to slow down and feel the weight of this incredible truth because, brothers and sisters, this is our reality too: He is your God. This Creator God, this Mighty God, this Gracious God is your God. He is for you, not against you. He walks with you and goes before you. Then, let me ask you, “Is He truly enough for you? Is your heart truly satisfied in Him? Or is He not? If so, why not? What more do you need to have your heart satisfied?”
Now, before we move on, I want to briefly talk about the role of waiting. God made Abram wait for 13 years. But it wasn’t to punish him – rather, it was to humble him and grow his faith. Paul Tripp writes, “In the Bible, waiting is not a meaningless, purposeless pause, forced on us by the control of another. One of the reasons we don’t like to wait is that waiting immediately confronts us with the fact that we are not in control. Something or someone is causing us to have to wait. But waiting isn’t an interruption of God’s plan. It is His plan, for waiting isn’t just about what you are hoping for at the end of the wait, but also about what you will become as you wait. Then, waiting on God doesn’t mean sitting around and hoping. Waiting means believing He will do what He’s promised and then acting with confidence.” Abram may have felt that the waiting was a disruption. But in reality, waiting was essential for his sanctification. If Isaac had come quickly, Abram might have thought it was by his own strength. So, he might have casually thanked God and moved on. He might have forgotten and taken the blessings for granted. But by waiting until Abram was as good as dead, God showed that the promise depended entirely on His power. In fact, the years of delay were also forming Abram into the kind of man God wanted him to be – which is why God didn’t just say, “Sit tight, Abram.” No, He said, “Walk before Me.” Our waiting is never passive. It’s always active faithfulness – trusting God, obeying Him, and living in His presence while the promise is still unseen. Then, let me ask you, “What are you waiting for today? For someone to marry, a child, a job, a breakthrough in your career? For your investment to make a good return? For you to be healed? For your loved one to come to Christ? In fact, are you like Abram at the brink of giving up because you feel like the odds are against you?” Now, I can’t promise that God will meet every longing exactly the way you expect. But I can promise that He will use your waiting to shape you. So, don’t waste it. Don’t take matters into your own hands. Instead, wait actively – trusting that the All-Powerful One is working for your good.
2) THE GOD WHO GIVES A NEW IDENTITY
Starting verse 3, God reaffirms and expands His covenant by structuring it with three markers: verse 4, “As for Me” (something for God); verse 9, “As for you” (something for Abram); and verse 15, “As for Sarai your wife” (something for Sarai). Now, some might ask, “Didn’t He share this already before in Chapters 12 and 15? Why is God being so repetitive? Isn’t this just the same thing but worded differently?” Not necessarily. Chapter 12 announced broad promises – like land, offspring, and blessing to the nations. Chapter 15 confirmed those promises – God alone passed through the path of slaughtered animals, showing that the covenant rested on grace, not Abram’s performance. Then, Chapter 17 expands and specifies those promises – God declares that Abram will become a father of many nations, that kings will come from his line, and that Sarah will bear the son of promise “by this time next year” as it says in verse 21. All that to say, this isn’t a repetition. But even if it was exactly the same information, I think Abram would’ve appreciated it, considering that 13 years had passed since he last heard God speak about the covenant. Think about it. If you’re married, how many of you remember the exact wording of the vows you made on your wedding day? Alicia and I have been married 13 years – and the only reason I remember the vow is because I officiate many weddings. But honestly, we forget easily – sometimes, I don’t even remember what I did this past month, so I have to check my calendar to confirm. If that’s the case, Abram would’ve been filled with fresh joy to hear God reaffirm the promises again after 13 years of silence. And we, too, need God’s promises repeated, re-proclaimed, and reapplied.
Now, what did God say? We don’t have the time to go through every detail, but I’d like to point out a few things. First, God lays out all that He will do. In this one chapter, I counted 16 times where God says He will do something – “I will make My covenant. I will make you a father of many nations. I will make you fruitful. I will establish My covenant. I will give the whole land of Canaan. I will be their God. I will bless her. I will greatly increase his numbers.” It’s clear that God does it all by Himself – Abram contributes absolutely nothing. This is grace. Salvation has always been what God does for us, not what we do for Him. Second, God explains Abram’s responsibility. Now, some might say, “I knew it. Christians always say salvation is unconditional, but there’s always a condition.” But you’ll notice that the only thing God asks Abram to do is not offer this many animals as a sacrifice or pray this many prayers but simply be circumcised so that he would remember and keep the covenant. What he needs to do doesn’t add anything to the covenant – it’s really to help Abram remember. We’ll talk more about this in the next point – so let’s just leave it here for now. Third, God gives Abram and Sarai new identities. In Scripture, to rename was to redefine the person’s identity and destiny. So, for example, Jacob became Israel to emphasize that a deceiver has now transformed into someone who wrestles with God. Simon became Peter to emphasize that Jesus was making him a foundational leader in the early church. And in the same way, Abram and Sarai receive names that match God’s future purposes, not their present reality. Here’s what I mean. “Abram” literally means “exalted father” – but God changed his name to “Abraham,” which literally means “a father of many nations.” I love what Donald Grey Barnhouse once said: “I cannot help but think what must have happened when Abraham broke the news to his family and servants that he was now changing his name. They all knew that his former name was Abram, the father of many. And they knew it had been somewhat of a thorn to him. So, we can imagine the stir of interest and curiosity when he announced, ‘I’m going to change my name.’ There must have been some who said to themselves with a laugh, ‘The old man couldn’t take it. It got under his skin. After all, to be the father of nobody for eighty-six years, and then to be the father of only one, with a name like he has, must have its rough moments. So, he’s going to change his name. I wonder what it’ll be.’ And then the old man spoke, ‘I’m to be known as Abraham, father of a multitude.’ We can almost hear the silence of the stunned moment as the truth breaks upon them. Then, the laughter broke forth behind the scenes. ‘The old man has gone crazy. Father of a multitude? Was there anything more ridiculous for a man of his age?’ From a mere human perspective, this change of name was ridiculous. But this change of name is a divine guarantee that Abram will be the father of a multitude of nations.” In the same way, Sarai’s name (which meant “my princess”) was changed to Sarah (“the princess”). Nancy Guthrie wrote, “While her father may have named her ‘princess,’ he had no power to make her once. But God, in renaming her ‘princess,’ will fulfill the promise of this name.” By changing their names, God was declaring what He would make of them, not what they were at the moment. Abram was an honorable father of one son – but God would make him the father of nations. Sarai had been barren all her life – but God would make her the mother of kings.
This is important to point out because this is how God works in our lives as well, in that before He changes circumstances, He transforms people. No wonder He allows us to wait at times. He gives new identities that align with His new purposes for us, for God sees not just who we were but who we are now in Christ. Then, brothers and sisters, do you realize that you’ve also been given a new name? In Christ, you’re a child of God, in that you’re unconditionally loved by God the Father. You’re a friend of God, in that you’re no longer an enemy who fears God, but someone who’s welcomed into intimate fellowship with the Creator God. You’re a saint, in that you’ve been set apart and made holy in Christ. You’re a servant of Christ, in that you’re called to humble obedience and joyful service under His lordship. You’re an ambassador of Christ, in that you’re called to be a representative of His kingdom – entrusted with the message of reconciliation. I could go on and on with the list, but the point is that this is who you are. Christ has transformed you. Then, let me ask you, “Do you have a clear understanding of who you are in Christ? And are you living out of the new name and identity Christ has given you? Or are you still clinging to your old names – sinner, failure, unworthy?” Friends, you are not who you were – you are who He says you are. Without clarity in your identity, you’ll quickly be swallowed up by the storms of life, for your identity is rooted in temporary things that can easily be taken away. But if your identity is in Christ, you’ll persevere through anything. So, walk in the joy and confidence of who you are in Christ. Live in that freedom – and let your life point others to the God who makes all things new.
3) THE GOD WHO MARKS HIS PEOPLE
Verse 10, “This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.” As you know, circumcision is the cutting away of the foreskin from the male reproductive organ. Now, circumcision was more than a ritual. It was a mark of identity for the people of God – a visible and irreversible physical sign of the invisible spiritual reality that said, “I belong to God.” Then, we can’t help but wonder, “Why did God use circumcision as the sign of the covenant? What does it signify?” Two things. First, it symbolized separation from sin. By cutting away flesh, God gave His people a very painful and permanent reminder that sin must be cut away from our lives. It’s like pruning a fruit tree. A branch left to grow wild may look strong, but if it isn’t pruned, it won’t bear fruit. The cutting is painful, but it makes room for life and growth. In the same way, circumcision reminded God’s people that sin must be cut away if they were to bear the fruit of covenant life – to be holy and different from the world. No wonder Moses said this to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 10:16: “Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.” The outward act pointed to an inward reality – the need for God to purify our hearts. Second, it depicted God’s judgment on sin. Circumcision, as you can imagine, involved the shedding of blood. Now, in the ancient world, covenants were often sealed in blood to show that this bond was as serious as life and death. Then, every circumcision ceremony was, in one sense, a living sermon – a reminder that those who break the covenant and reject God’s gracious gift will be “cut off.”
Now, circumcision is not commanded for Christians today because it was the sign of the old covenant. Then, what is the sign of the new covenant? Baptism. Paul said in Colossians 2:11-12, “In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through your faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Circumcision was the shadow – pointing to what God would one day do. But baptism is the celebration – declaring what God has already done in Christ. Circumcision anticipated the cross – baptism proclaims the cross. This is why, even though circumcision was given to all males in Abraham’s household (including children), whether or not they had faith, for it pointed forward to a promise yet to be fulfilled, baptism is given only to those who confirm and profess faith in Christ, for it points back to a promise already fulfilled in Him. In fact, this is why we don’t baptize infants, but only believers, for we believe that the sign of the new covenant belongs to those who have been regenerated by the Spirit through faith.
Now, how did Jesus fulfill the promise symbolized in circumcision? God said in Isaiah 53:8, “He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of My people He was punished.” The truth is that we all rejected God – which means that all of us were destined to be cut off from the presence of God. But because of His love for us, God sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to take our place – and He was cut off from the presence of God so that we could be brought into the family of God. He bore the curse of the covenant so that we could receive its blessings. Then, let me speak to those who have not yet given their lives to Jesus. Friends, it’s not too late. Turn to Christ today. Fall at the feet of the cross and see what Christ has accomplished for you. He suffered for you. He died for you so that you may be forgiven and be brought in. If you believe this, give yourself to Christ today. Don’t delay, for we do not know our future. We do not know how many days we have. So, go to Jesus while you still have time. And for those who believe, let me just say: remain in Him, knowing that apart from Him, we can do nothing. Remain in Christ so that in and through Him, you’ll bear much fruit.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, we’re called to trust God’s sufficiency even when promises seem delayed, live out of our new identity that shapes our mission, and remember Christ who has sealed the covenant with His blood on the cross. Then, let’s live daily in the enjoyment of the covenant relationship with God, which is secure in Jesus Christ.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) Have you ever gone through a season when God seemed silent or distant? How did that shape your faith or your view of Him? What does it mean to you personally that God introduces Himself as God Almighty? Where do you need to believe that right now?
2) What’s something you are waiting for right now? How could you wait in a way that honors God rather than takes matters into your own hands?
3) Why do you think God gave Abram and Sarai new names at this point in the story? In Christ, we’re given new names and identities (child of God, saint, servant, ambassador, etc.). Which of these feels most meaningful to you right now? Why? What old labels are you tempted to believe about yourself instead of your new identity in Christ?
4) Circumcision was an outward sign that God’s people belonged to Him. Baptism now functions as that sign for us. How does remembering your baptism (or your hope for baptism) motivate you to live differently as one who belongs to Christ?