Genesis 17

Genesis 17:1

17:1-14 God’s words to Abram in verse 1 may have been a veiled way of saying that he should stop trying to work things out in his own strength and let Almighty God work for him. Immediately afterward God renewed His covenant and changed the patriarch’s name from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude). Circumcision was then instituted as a sign of the covenant. This surgical operation, performed on the male child, was a physical sign that the person belonged to God’s chosen earthly people. Although it was already practiced in the Middle East at this time, it took on new meaning for Abraham and his family. Every male in Abraham’s house was circumcised, and thereafter every male baby was to be circumcised when he was eight days old or else be cut off from his peoplethat is, put away from the congregation of Israel (vv. 9-14).

The expression “cut off” sometimes means to put to death, as in Exo_31:14-15. In other places, as here, it seems to mean to ban or ostracize. The Apostle Paul is careful to point out that Abraham was justified (Gen_15:6) before he was circumcised. His circumcision was “a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised” (Rom_4:11). Believers today are not sealed with a physical mark; they receive the Holy Spirit as a seal at the time of their conversion (Eph_4:30).

THE SIGN OF CIRCUMCISIONCircumcision was adopted by God as a physical sign of the covenant between Him and His people (Gen_17:10-14). Thus all descendants of Abraham became known as “the circumcision” (Act_10:45) and Gentiles were called the “uncircumcision” (Eph_2:11). It is also the sign and seal of the righteousness which Abraham had by faith (Rom_4:5). But then the words “circumcision” and “circumcised” took on a variety of meanings. “Uncircumcised lips” (Exo_6:12) signified a lack of skill in public speaking. “Uncircumcised ears” and “uncircumcised hearts” spoke of failure to hear, love, and obey the Lord (Lev_26:41; Deu_10:16; Deu_30:6; Jer_6:10; Act_7:51). “Uncircumcised in flesh” (Eze_44:7) meant unclean. In the NT, “the circumcision of Christ” (Col_2:11) refers to His death on the cross. Believers are circumcised through their identification with Christ; Paul speaks of it as “the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh” (Col_2:11). This circumcision speaks of death to the fleshly nature. It is true positionally of every believer, but should be followed by a practical mortifying of the sinful deeds of the flesh (Col_3:5). The apostle speaks of believers as the true circumcision (Phi_3:3), in contrast to a party of Jewish legalists known as “the circumcision” (Gal_2:12). In addition to their symbolism, some of God’s kindly laws were designed to save His people from the diseases of the Gentiles. Many medical authorities today believe that circumcision tends to prevent certain forms of cancer in both the man and his wife.

17:15-17 God changed Sarai’s name to Sarah (princess) and promised Abraham that his ninety-year-old wife would have a son. The patriarch laughed, but in joyful wonder, not in unbelief. His faith did not waver (Rom_4:18-21). 17:18-27 When Abraham pled that Ishmael might have favor before God, he was told that the covenant would be fulfilled through his son, Isaac. However, Ishmael would be fruitful, would multiply, and would become a great nation. Isaac was a symbol of Christ, through whom the covenant receives its ultimate fulfillment. Notice the promptness of Abraham’s obedience: That very same day Abraham was circumcised, and his son Ishmael.