The Book of GENESIS
Chapter 17 – 18:15
“Abraham, Sarah & God’s Miracle!”
~ Five Promise Points of God:
(v1-8) What’s in a Name?
(v1-2) “I am Almighty God” – This is one of the names of God, titles or designations given to God
throughout the Bible. In the ancient world, knowing another's name was a special privilege that offered
access to that person's thought and life. God favored His people by revealing Himself by several names,
which offered special insight into His love and righteousness.
- In this verse it is “Almighty God”, El Shaddai in Hebrew, which reveals who God is, and will be for all
who believe in Him. The Almighty God we believe in is our strength, our satisfaction, and all-sufficient
One, this expresses His character.
- Abram is called to “walk before God and be blameless.” We are called to do the same in Ephesians ch.
5:1-17; let’s discover how a Christian is to WALK (3 points) - (1) Walk in LOVE (v2); (2) Walk in the
LIGHT (v8); (3) Walk WISELY (v15).
(v3-8) Notice that Abram prays and God talks to him. When we pray God will talk to us. Then his
name is changed from Abram to Abraham, from “Exalted Father” to “Father of a Multitude” or a
father of many nations. In this chapter God uses the term “covenant” thirteen times. By making a
covenant with Abraham, God promised to bless His descendants and to make them His special people.
Abraham, in return, was to remain faithful to God and to serve as a channel through which God's
blessings could flow to the rest of the world.
(v9-14) The Sign of Circumcision Instituted
> Understanding Circumcision - The surgical removal of the foreskin of the male sex organ. This action
served as a sign of God’s COVENANT relation with His people. Circumcision was widely practiced in
the ancient world, including the Egyptian and Canaanite cultures. But among these people the rite was
performed at the beginning of puberty, or about 12 years of age, as a sort of initiation ceremony into
manhood.
- In contrast, the Hebrew people performed circumcision on infants. This rite signified their responsibility
to serve as the holy people whom God had called as His special servants in the midst of a pagan world.
- In the Bible's first mention of circumcision, God instructed Abraham to circumcise every male child in
his household, including servants, "in the flesh of your foreskins" (Gen 17:11).
- The custom was performed on the eighth day after birth (Gen 17:12). At this time a name was given to
the son (Luke 1:59; 2:21). In the early history of the Jewish people circumcision was performed by the
father. But the surgical task was eventually taken over by a specialist.
- Circumcision of the Jewish male was required as a visible, physical sign of the covenant between the
Lord and His people.
- Any male not circumcised was to be "cut off from his people" (Gen 17:14) and regarded as a covenantbreaker (Ex 12:48). 1
(v15-19) The Promise of a Son through Sarai (Sarah) Confirmed
(v15-16) Sarai to Sarah – The original name of Abraham's wife Sarah was Sarai (which see). The Heb.
name of Sarah is sara ("princess" or “noble lady”). Jehovah will fulfill His promise to Sarah, and at the
1
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
appointed time she’ll give birth to Isaac (Gen 21:1-3). Paul in Rom 4:19-22 writes, And not being weak in
faith, he (Abraham) did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years
old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but
was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He
was also able to perform. This was truly a miracle, since both Sarah and Abraham were advanced in
years.
- Extra insight: Thirty-seven years after the birth of Isaac, and when she had reached the age of 127,
Sarah died at Hebron and was buried in the cave of Machpelah (Gen 21:1-3), c. 1980 BC Isaiah is the
only prophet who names Sarah (Isa 51:2).
- Peter eulogizes her submission to her husband in 1 Peter 3:1-6. Ladies what character traits of Sarah
should you aspire? (1) Submission, (2) chaste conduct, (3) a good heart, (4) a gentle and quiet spirit,
(5) and she trusted in God.
(v17-19) Abraham laughs! Why? He’s 99, she’s 89, this will be a miracle!
(v20-27) What about Ishmael?
(v20) Ishmael’s descendants shall be a great nation.
- In Gen 25:12-18 - Now this is the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian,
Sarah's maidservant, bore to Abraham. And these were the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names,
according to their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael
and these were their names, by their towns and their settlements, twelve princes according to their
nations. These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed
his last and died, and was gathered to his people. (They dwelt from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east
of Egypt as you go toward Assyria.) He died in the presence of all his brethren.
(v21-22) However, the covenant is with Isaac.
(v23-27) Abraham is obedient in regards to circumcision.
Chapter 18:1-15 – “The Visitation”
(v1-8) Abraham dines with the LORD and two angels. The three men that visit Abraham appear to be
two angels and what is called a “theophany,” an appearance of God in human form in the Old Testament.
- A THEOPHANY according to Nelson’s Bible dictionary is “any direct, visual manifestation of the
presence of God. The key word is visual, since God makes His presence and power known throughout the
Bible in a variety of ways. But even in a theophany a person does not actually see God Himself. This is an
impossibility, according to Ex 33:20; 1 Tim 6:16; and 1 John 4:12. What a person sees are the effects of
God's unmediated presence. Theophanies proper are limited to the Old Testament. They are most
common in the books of Genesis and Exodus; but they also occur in the writings of the prophets,
especially in connection with the calling of a prophet. The most frequent visible manifestation of God's
presence in the Old Testament is the "Angel of the Lord." Other theophanies are the burning bush (Ex
3:1-6), the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire (Ex 13:21-22), the cloud and fire of Sinai (Ex 24:16-18),
and the cloud of the glory of the Lord (Ex 40:34-38).”
(v9-15) These visitors clue in Sarah on her miracle baby and she laughs. No wonder the baby will be
named Isaac (laughter). Let’s conclude in Hebrews 11:8-12.