Genesis 17

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“On that very day Abraham took his son, Ishmael, and every male in his household, including those born there and those he had bought. Then he circumcised them, cutting off their foreskins, just as God had told him” (Genesis 17:23 NLT).

January 7, 2018

When my children were young and took too long to obey, I would say to them, “Slow obedience is no obedience.” Certainly, Abraham could not be accused of this. He was quick to obey God, as the Scripture says, “On that very day…” When Abraham believed, he obeyed. There was no disconnect between his faith and his obedience. Not only was he quick to obey, he obeyed fully. As the Scripture also says, “Just as God had told him.”

It is good to teach our children to obey us just as Abraham obeyed the Lord. Three attributes of obedience should be taught. In teaching, you might ask, “Johnny, how do you obey?” And his learned response should be, “Immediately, sweetly and completely.” This is good training for our children, but also good instruction for how we should obey the Lord.

“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'” (Genesis 17:1)

January 7, 2014

The Bible is a book for us, but not really about us. It is a book about God. The Lord chooses to reveal Himself to Abram. With every turn of the page, the Bible records more about the Person and Character of God. Here, He identifies Himself as “El Shaddai-God Almighty,” the Omnipotent One. What does it mean to you that God is All-Powerful? What do you face today that requires His strength?

“So Abraham said to God, ‘May Ishmael live under your special blessing!'” (Genesis 17:18)

January 7, 2012

Both Judaism and Islam claim Abraham as Father. The sons of Isaac and Ishmael have been in conflict since their beginning. But the Son of God can reconcile this rift. For the true sons of Abraham are now born of the Spirit and not of the flesh (Gal. 3:7).