By Teena Myers

Observations as I follow God through the Chronological Bible

Genesis 17[1]

In God’s fifth appearance to Abram, he opened the conversation with a rebuke for the attempt to fulfill God’s purpose with a human plan. This is the first-time scripture records Abram “fell facedown”[2] in God’s presence. Was Abram frightened by the rebuke, or had he finally learned to reverence God? There is no way to know for sure, but one thing is certain. The long wait to obtain the son God promised was near its end. Before God fulfilled his promise to give Abram a son by Sarai, he clearly defined the responsibilities of each person by saying “As for me”, “As for you”, and “As for Sarai.”[3] He also changed their names from Abram to Abraham, and Sarai became Sarah.

God reaffirmed people from many nations will call Abraham father. These people will establish nations and become kings and priests. The covenant between God, Abraham and the seed/Jesus the promises belong to is everlasting. Jesus will possess the land wherein Abraham lived in as a foreigner as an everlasting possession. The God who created all things will be their God.

As for Abraham, he must circumcise every male as a sign of the covenant God made with him. God included in his covenant those born into Abraham’s family and those who became a part of the family by other means. God also put the sign of the covenant, circumcision, in a private place for his eyes only.

God’s blessings will rest upon Sarah, and she will give birth to a son. Her child will become nations and kings.

Land on earth, nations, kings, and a sign for God’s eyes only does not sound like the gospel taught to me. I’ve heard sermons about God circumcising our hearts and making us a nation of kings and priest, but what about the land on earth? If Christ redeemed us “in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,”[4] our ultimate destination is not in the heavens, but becoming an eternal nation on the earth.

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[1] All scripture quotes are from the NIV Bible unless otherwise noted.

[2] Genesis 17:3

[3] Genesis 17:4, 9, 15

[4] Galatians 3:14