A new revelation, a command, and covenant renewed

Genesis 17

Introduction

When the story of Abraham began, he was in Haran. God appeared to him when he was 75 years old. Now he was 99, and God appeared again. In the intervening 24 years there had been three other appearances. We are apt to think of Abraham’s life as crowded with divine revelations, but this was not so. For the last 13 years Abraham had simply walked by faith with no special appearances. We are in the same situation – God’s special manifestations are bright surprises, and not the rule.

No doubt an unhappy home-life had continued, with all the tensions and quarrels seen earlier. He felt the pressure of life pushing unseen realities out, causing God’s promises to get dimmer and he was now thinking Ishmael was a possible substitute for the promised heir. Now there is a new revelation from God. Quickening of the spiritual life is the result, and the covenant is renewed with fresh visible signs guaranteeing God’s promise.

Revelation which is new

The Lord appeared to Abraham and said to him ‘I am the Almighty God’ (Genesis 17:1). El Shaddai is one of the great Old Testament titles for God. It comes five times in Genesis, but is most frequently used in Job (31 times in all). Its meaning is “I am the sufficient God”. We have to do with the God who is enough. He is enough in Himself. He has everything and does not need anything. He is enough to us. We have all in Him, and enough in Him. Enough to satisfy our desires and supply our needs.

This is one of the great truths about God that we need to get into our minds. There is sufficiency in God. So, also, is the atonement – it is sufficient, and not just necessary. The Word, the Bible, is also sufficient, and not just necessary. So God Himself is all-sufficient. Here is the “enough” God. As in the Salvation Army hymn:

“Thou art enough for me;

Thou art enough for me;

Thou living, loving, mighty Lord,

Yes, Thou art enough for me!”

That chorus gets to the heart of this divine title. With all of God’s dealings with us, there is always more to follow. J.A.Bengal, a New Testament textual scholar, a man of rare piety as well as a vast intellect, wrote a little chain of four phrases which are worth remembering: “Christ in heaven; Christ in the heart; heaven in the heart; and the heart in heaven.”

Nautical application – box compass of human infirmity – opposite every point, north, south, east or west, you find the all sufficient God, able to meet need. We should always take this truth into our calculations – in our business affairs, daily work, relationships with this one and that, 1001 experiences which come to us every day – we must turn to this glorious title, believe it and yield to it. We need depend on nothing and no one else. With such a God as shepherd and guide, we have all we need. The all-sufficient God is the God of the open hand. We need to get that truth into our heart and mind for the coming week.

Requirement which follows revelation

Walk before me and be blameless. Notice that this command follows the revelation. If this command had stood on its own, Abraham might well despair. But it follows the revelation of the all-sufficient God. The revelation gives both the reason why he should live in a certain way, and the resources available to him as he does. God is saying to him, because of who I am and what I have got for you, you are to live in a particular way.

Many people may believe in God, but it makes no difference to their lives. There is no fear of God. Even of there was no God, their lives would be exactly the same. But this is not the case with the man of God, because the fact and revelation of God means that he lives in a certain way.

In some cases the Hebrew word indicates “walk after God”, i.e. in obedience. Sometimes a different word is used, meaning “walk with God”, i.e. in communion. But here the word is definitely “walk before God”, i.e. live in God’s presence and behave in a particular way. Have the constant awareness that God is near, sees all, hears all, wherever we are and whatever company we are in. Think and speak and act as in His sight. Remember we are always in His company. The whole of life is spent in the presence of Him of whom it is said, Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13). He sees all, hears all, and knows all.

The Hebrew word used for blameless can bear various meanings. It obviously implies we seek to be perfect and sinless as God is. We fail of course, but that is our aim and we do not wish to have any lower ambition or purpose in life. But the more likely meaning and more positive meaning is “morally complete” – thoroughly equipped, whole-hearted surrender to God.

“True-hearted, whole-hearted, faithful and loyal,

King of our lives, by Thy grace will we be.”

When we are whole-hearted towards God, He comes first in our schemes, plans, pleasures, friendships, thoughts and acts. His will is our guide. His business is our aim. His will done is our concern. Everything is under His government. He should not have to share me with anyone else. My heart is straight before Him, and undivided. There is no life to be compared with a life in which an undivided heart is centre spring. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light (Matthew 6:22).

But we are only constrained to live like that if we are aware of God, the truth of God, and living in fear of God, remembering God and the resources of God.

Returning to El Shaddai. A minister once put these words above the fireplace in his study, painted in bright gold letters. When he was depressed, when he was aware of the work he had to do, when he knew his command in life, he looked up and saw that glint of gold. So it can be with us.

Response which is instant

Abram fell face down, and God talked with him (Genesis 17:3). Abraham, aware of the reality and nearness of the divine presence, and aware of the honour done to one so unworthy, looked on himself with shame and humility. He looked on God with wonder and reverence, and fell into a position of adoration. He was prepared to let God have His way, and he began to enter into fellowship with God.

When God gives us a new revelation of Himself, makes a new requirement of life and we respond, we move on to a different plane and our experience moves into a higher gear. We become aware of this especially after a period of backsliding and lukewarmness. To the church at Laodicea, accused of lukewarmness, Jesus said, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20). He offered a new experience of Himself, a new intimacy and new nearness with Him.

We are not to put a number on this blessing. The Christian life is gradual growth punctuated by crises of various kinds. There comes new revelation and new surrender, followed by new awareness and nearness to the Lord. Not a second blessing. In fact the Christian life is many blessings – second, fifty-second, one hundred and second. But we only move forward once God reveals Himself when we respond. Submission to the Lord comes first, and then renewed fellowship.

Reassurance which supports

God renews His covenant again. He said it before, and He says it again. “I meant what I said, and I still mean it”. This is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendents after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendents after you; and I will be their God (Genesis 17:4-8).

Again the promises are guaranteed by visible seals and signs. This time they are private and public. The private sign is a change in name. No longer Abram, “exalted father”, but Abraham, “Father of multitude”. Sarai became Sarah, “princess” or “queen”.

Then the rite of circumcision is given special significance. Some people have difficulty with this because circumcision was already common among many races, e.g. Egypt, Edom, Ammon, Moab. (The only exception was the Philistines.) How can it be said to have special meaning in the Old Testament when it was something already known?

The point is that here God gave it new significance. There was baptism before Christ, e.g. the Jews, and John the Baptist. But after Christ, baptism was given new significance. It became the badge of Christian discipleship, symbolizing dying to sin and rising with Christ. Other religions may use the symbols of the bread and wine, but in the context of the Christians church fellowship, these symbols refer to the atonement. So with the well-known and widespread practice of circumcision, it was given new significance among God’s people. It signified being dedicated to God, God’s property, God’s ownership. It was a permanent mark on the body - God’s stamp on His people.

Here is a message of permanent value to us. The covenant is no longer guaranteed by the visible sign of circumcision. Circumcision of the heart replaces that (Colossians 2:11; Romans 2:29). The method by which we obtain circumcision of the heart is by new birth and new creation in Christ. As Christians, we are neither circumcised nor uncircumcised, but new creations. Still the essence of the covenant remains. God says He is our God. Through the Cross, c.f. the new covenant, the way is made open for us to be God’s people. This gives us a glimpse into the depths of the divine heart towards us. He gives Himself, His resources, and His grace. By grace we can say, “He is my God”.

On the other side of the coin, we are His possession, precious to Him, so dear to Him. A picture of mutual possession. To possess God is only possible on condition of our yielding selves to Him. When we give ourselves up – heart, mind, will - to be His, He is ours. The self-centred man is always poor. When we lose ourselves to God, we find ourselves. Content to have nothing and not be our own masters, we possess all things. All things are yours… the present or the future… all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God (1 Corinthians 3:21-23).