Read Genesis 17

In the last lesson we learned how Abram decided to take matters into his own hands concerning offspring. Instead of trusting the Lord, he followed the suggestion of his wife Sarai and had a child with Sarai’s handservant Hagar. God used Abram’s unfaithfulness for good however and made Ishmael, his son by Hagar, into a great nation from which would come many kings, thus fulfilling part of God’s promise to Abram.

In this lesson we read that when Abram was ninety-nine years old God spoke to him again. God told Abram that He was still going to make him a great nation. He said that Abram would still have a child by Sarai in spite of her advanced years. We find that God entered a covenant with Abram in this chapter. God was going to make his offspring into a great nation. All nations would be blessed through Abram. As a part of the covenant between Abram and God, Abram’s name was changed. From that point on he was known as Abraham. Abraham meant "Father of many nations". Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah. She was to be the mother of many nations. We read that Abraham laughed when God told him that Sarah would bear him a child. Isn’t it like man to doubt God and even laugh in His face when He tells us He is going to do something we deem impossible?

As a result of the covenant between Abraham and God, all of the males in Abraham’s clan who were more than eight days old were to be circumcised. This included his servants. The man child who was not circumcised by the time he was eight days old would be cut off from among Abraham’s people for he would be considered to have broken God’s covenant. Abraham asked God to remember Ishmael as well because Ishmael was also his son. God told him that Ishmael was to be blessed as well but he was not the one with whom God would carry on his covenant. His covenant would be with the son Abraham would have with Sarah.

EXAM QUESTIONS

1. ____________________ name was changed to

____________________ because he was to be the

_________________ of many _________________.

2. _____________________ name was changed to

______________________ because she was to be the

___________________ of many _________________.

3. When ______ told _____________________ he would

have a _________________ with ___________________

he _______________________.

4. God made his _______________________ with

_______________________ and his _______________.

5. As a ___________ of the _____________ ___________

and all males in his clan were to be __________________.