God appeared to Abram and identified Himself as the Almighty God. He was not just one of many gods; He is the only Supreme God. The Lord changed the names of Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah to show His power to change their lives and their future. He promised a son to Abraham and Sarah and demanded that Abraham and the men in his household practice circumcision as the token of the covenant. The Almighty God will do a great work in their lives.

What Does It Say?

1. When the Lord appeared to Abram, he fell on his ________ and God __________ with him.
2. God promised to give Abraham’s seed all the land of __________ for an everlasting ______________.
3. Every male child that is __________ days old shall be circumcised.
4. Sarah will be blessed and will be a mother of ____________; kings of ___________ shall be of her.
5. Sarah shall indeed bear a son and his name shall be called __________.

What Does It Mean?

1. A key word in this chapter is the word covenant. Covenant is used 13 times; my covenant is mentioned 9 times; everlasting covenant is mentioned 3 times. The everlasting covenant is mentioned in Genesis 17:7And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
   See All..., 13, 19. Carefully read these verses and make a list of the things they say about the everlasting covenant. Why do you think it is called an everlasting covenant?
2. Genesis 17:11And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
   See All... states, “And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.” Look up the word token in a dictionary. What does it mean? In what way is the act of circumcision a token of the covenant made with Abraham? [Note: a covenant is an agreement.] What was the token of the covenant God made with Noah in Genesis 9:12-17 [12] And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: [13] I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. [14] And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: [15] And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. [16] And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. [17] And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.
   See All...? What was the covenant God made with Noah?
3. According to Genesis 17:20-21 [20] And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. [21] But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
   See All..., Ishmael (the son of Hagar and Abraham) and his descendants are to be blessed by the Lord but God’s covenant will be established with Isaac (the son of Sarah and Abraham). Read the allegory Paul gives in Galatians 4:22-31 [22] For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. [23] But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. [24] Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. [25] For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. [26] But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. [27] For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. [28] Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. [29] But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. [30] Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. [31] So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
   See All.... What does this allegory mean according to your understanding?

What Does It Mean to Me?

1. When God appeared to Abram, He declared, “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect” (Genesis 17:1And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
   See All...). In Genesis 17:18And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
   See All..., Abraham cried out, “O that Ishmael might live before thee!” We already walk and live before the Lord in the sense of Him seeing us. What do these phrases mean? How can they lead me to a more holy and dedicated life?
2. Abraham was commanded to circumcise every man child of his house and in future generations (Genesis 17:10-13 [10] This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. [11] And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. [12] And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. [13] He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
   See All...). This was a physical cutting of the flesh. However, the Bible has numerous references to a spiritual circumcision. Read the following verses: Jeremiah 4:4Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
   See All...; Jeremiah 9:26Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.
   See All...; Acts 7:51Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
   See All...; Philippians 3:3God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
   See All...; Colossians 2:11In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
   See All.... Consider the overall teaching of these verses and tell in your own words what this spiritual circumcision is. Please note that every one of these verses may not be speaking of exactly the same thing. Now explain how you can apply this spiritual circumcision to your own life and walk with God.

Suggested Memory Verses

Genesis 17:1And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
See All..., 7, 8