Controlling Themes
- Faith is trusting in an Almighty God to do what He has promised to do.
- Faith is resisting the temptation to take shortcuts to God’s promise and use human means to get there. (see Gal 4:21-23)
- Being a child of God and an heir to His promise requires self-sacrifice and self-denial.
Read Genesis 17
The Context
Twenty-four years have passed since God called Abram to leave Haran, giving him the promise that He would “make of you a great nation” (Gen 12:1-4)
Thirteen years have passed since the birth of Ishmael (Gen 16:16), whose very existence represents a fleshly attempt to make God’s promise come true. His birth represents doubt, impatience, and weak faith.
Twenty-four years of difficulty and struggle. Thirteen years of strained relationships at home.
Genesis 17:1
In that context what is the first thing God says to Abram?
- I am God Almighty. El Shaddai
Note: This is the first time God describes himself this way.
Why do you think He chose that name for Himself at this moment?
- To tell Abram that he could trust God to fulfill his promise.
- To tell Abram that he didn’t need to help God fulfill his promise.
Note:
- God makes things happen. He has the power and the integrity to fulfill His promises. He introduced himself this way to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Ex 6:3). These men needed to know that God was almighty.
- God is called El Shaddai thirty-one times in the book of Job. When we suffer trials of various kinds, knowing that our God is Almighty is comforting.
Charles Spurgeon wrote,
“The Lord meant the language before us to be a gentle but unmistakable rebuke for Abram, for he said in effect, “I am God All Sufficient—quite sufficient to fulfill my own purposes without your help, quite able to achieve my own designs without such a questionable expedient as that of Hagar and her son Ishmael.” That is, no doubt, the divine intent in the declaration of all-sufficiency. If we also have been at any time distrustful, we should let them sink into our souls: “I am God All Sufficient.”
What are some of the circumstances in life where remembering that God is Almighty could be helpful?
Note: It takes a lifetime for faith to grow and ripen so that when God tells you to sacrifice your only son, you are willing to do so without question. (See Gen 22)
Genesis 17:1-10
God’s purpose was to make a covenant with Abram, which required that Abram trust Him.
What are some of the elements of this covenant? Why are they significant?
- It required Abram’s obedience to God (vs. 1-2) – walk before me and be blameless.
- It sealed the promise of Genesis 12 in a solemn way (vs. 4, 10)
- It changed Abram’s identity – Abraham – Father of a multitude of nations (vs. 5).
- It would change the world – kings would come from Abraham, even the King of Kings (vs. 6 & Rev 19:16)
- It is an everlasting covenant (vs. 7-8).
- It secured the promise that Yahweh would be “God” to Abraham and his descendants (vs. 7)
- It would be sealed by a blood sacrifice, but not by some animal. It would be sealed by the pain and shed blood of the one who gains the promise (vs. 10).
Note: We like to talk about the one-sided nature of many of God’s covenants with His people, and it is true the work of salvation is always God’s work, but there is a price to being a follower of God, an heir to his promise. There is an expectation that we fight for holiness in our lives, and there is a promise that we will suffer through trials and persecution because of our faith in God. But our hope and courage come from the reality that He is El Shaddai – God Almighty, God all-sufficient!
How would changing Abram’s name to Abraham encourage him to trust God?
- Every time someone called him by name, he would hear the promise of God.
Note: This speaks to the importance of constantly reminding ourselves of God’s promises and His faithfulness.
Genesis 17:15-19
Note: God changed Sarai’s name too. She went from being a princess to being a noblewoman – a queen. Kings would come from Abraham, because his wife, the queen would bear them. Not Hagar. Not anyone else. The woman who suffered 90 years of barrenness would be blessed by God with a son!
How did Abraham respond to God? Was his response one of faith or doubt?
- He laughed
- He questioned whether it was possible
- He asked that God bless Ishmael instead
Note: We may think that Abraham doubted God. There is even a hint of doubt in his request for Ishmael, but inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul informs us that this is not so.
He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
Romans 4:19-21
What does this tell us about the nature of faith, doubt, and following God?
- Being amazed by the unbelievable promises of God isn’t the same thing as doubting them.
Our wonder at God’s promise to do the impossible, even when it results in laughter, gives glory to God. Shouldn’t God’s promises seem impossible to us? Doesn’t our seemingly ridiculous faith in them shine a light on His glory?
- It is possible to want what is noble and good but still be out of step with God’s plan.
Abraham wanted his son to be blessed. It would seem strange if he didn’t. For 13 years, he raised him. God recognized this fact and did bless Ishmael, but he fulfilled His promise through Issac.
Controlling Themes Revisited
- Faith is trusting in an Almighty God to do what He has promised to do.
- Faith is resisting the temptation to take shortcuts to God’s promise and use human means to get there.
- Being a child of God and an heir to His promise requires self-sacrifice and self-denial.
