GENESIS 17
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.“
<17:1 NIV>
<17:1 NIV>
WHO AND WHAT GOD IS, SHOULD BE THE INFLUENCING FACTOR
GOD ALMIGHTY: the all powerful – infinite – omnipotent one. “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.“ <Job 42:2 NIV> “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.“ <Psa.115:3 NIV> “Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” <lsa.43:13 NIV> “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”“ <Matt.19:26 NIV> “For nothing is impossible with God.” <Luke 1:37 NIV>
In the days of Moses and the Prophets, the supremacy and power of God was witnessed in no uncertain manner as God enforced His law upon sinful mankind. The forces of nature, in obedience to God’s command and under His control, were used to demonstrate God’s power and might; and the fear of God was constantly in the minds of the people. Today we, who live in God’s “day of grace”, seem to have lost that fear and respect for God mainly because we do not witness the wrath of God outpoured upon sinful people who constantly rebel against God. Nevertheless, He is still God Almighty.
THE REQUIREMENT FOR GOD’S BLESSING: “walk before me and be blameless.” Walk in faith <2 Cor5:7>; Walk spiritually <Gal5:16>; Walk consistently <Eph.4:1>; Walk cautiously <Eph5:15>; Walk in light <1 John 1:7>; Become Christ like <1 John 2:6>; Strive for perfection <Matt5:48; Eph.4:13; Col.1:28; Heb.6:1>. When we give recognition to the fact that God is “The Almighty”, it will be our daily desire to be “faultless” in our walk before Him here on earth, until we achieve the ultimate perfection when He takes us home to be with Him.
THE OUTWARD EVIDENCE OF AN INWARD CONVICTION: “Every male among you shall be circumcised. …. and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.” <17:10-11 NIV> “It shall be a token of the covenant” (KJV). Every covenant or formal agreement between individuals is usually sealed with some form of “sign” or “token”. An agreement to purchase is signed by the parties involved. A vow of engagement or marriage is sealed in the exchange of rings. So it was with Abraham, God gave a sign or token in recognition of the covenant between Himself and Abraham and Abraham’s descendants which were yet to be born. The Almighty God has also given us a sign or token in recognition of the covenant we have entered with Him; He gives us a “new name” and His Holy Spirit, by whom we have been “sealed”: <see Gen.17:5; Rev 3:12; Eph.1:13>
Our walk before Him should be one of close relationship, pictured for us in the relationship between a bride and groom. . When we enter into this relationship or covenant with God, then one token, or outward evidence, that we can show to others is our obedience to His command to be baptized in His name; for it is in baptism that we show our identification with Christ. “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.” True faith is demonstrated in our willingness to be obedient to God’s command.
Abraham demonstrated this in his immediate action.