Ge 17

CHAPTER 17: THE COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION

v.1 God reveals Himself further as El Shaddai.

v.5 Abram means "high father". Abraham means "father of many nations".

v.10-14 Circumcision was a symbol of the cutting away of the flesh to pursue the things of God and of His Spirit.

v.15 Sarai means "contentious" Sarah means "princess".

v.16 The fourth chapter of Romans lists the four keys to Abraham's faith as: 1) Not considering the human limitations. 2) Not staggering at the promises of God. 3) Giving glory and thanks to God for what He will do. 4) Knowing that God can fulfill His promises.

v.17,18 A second lapse of faith: Abraham laughed and wondered inwardly when God told him that Sarah would bear a son, and then Abraham told God that he would be satisfied with Ishmael.

v.19 God told Abraham to call his son Isaac, which means "laughter".