Genesis 17:1-14
Walk Before Me and Be Blameless
Read the passage
1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.
2I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”
3Then Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,
4“As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.
5No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.
6I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you.
7I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
8And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.”
9God also said to Abraham, “You must keep My covenant—you and your descendants in the generations after you.
10This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised.
11You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
12Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring.
13Whether they are born in your household or purchased, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh will be an everlasting covenant.
14But if any male is not circumcised, he will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
When Abram is ninety-nine years old, the LORD appears to him and says, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.” Abram falls on his face. God establishes His covenant with Abram and promises that he will be the father of many nations.
God changes Abram's name to Abraham because he will be the father of many nations. God promises that kings will come from him and that the covenant will be everlasting with Abraham and his offspring. The promise will shape families, generations, and nations.
At the heart of these promises is God's commitment to be their God. He promises Abraham's descendants the land of Canaan, where Abraham is still living as a foreigner. Their future rests on what God says He will do. Abraham receives a new name before he can see all that God has promised through it.
The sign of the covenant is circumcision. Every male in Abraham's household is to receive it, including those born there and those purchased from elsewhere. From generation to generation, boys are to receive the sign at eight days old. God takes this sign seriously: He says an uncircumcised male has broken His covenant and is to be cut off from His people. Belonging to this household brings a responsibility to obey the God who has made the promise.
God's words join identity and conduct. Abraham receives a new name and a promise, but he is also called to walk before God with integrity. Covenant grace creates a people who belong to God and are meant to live in a way that reflects that belonging.
Questions
1 How old was Abram when God appeared to him?
AnswerAbram is ninety-nine years old. God calls him to walk before Him and be blameless, and promises to establish His covenant with him.
2 What new name did God give Abram?
AnswerGod changes Abram's name to Abraham because he will be the father of many nations. The new name expresses God's promise, not Abraham's achievement.
3 What does God promise to be for Abraham and his descendants?
AnswerHe promises to be their God. Along with the land and future generations, God gives them the assurance of belonging to Him.
4 What was the sign of the covenant?
AnswerCircumcision is given as the sign of the covenant for the males in Abraham's household and the generations after him. They are commanded to receive it as an act of obedience to God.
What This Means for Us
God's promises give His people a reason to trust Him before they can see the outcome. Abraham is called to live faithfully while much of what God has promised still lies ahead.
For our family, integrity includes the ordinary promises we make to one another. Is there something we have agreed to do but keep putting off? Keeping our word, even when it costs us, is one way to honor the faithful God we belong to.
Prayer
God Almighty, help us walk before You with integrity. Thank You for giving Your people an identity rooted in promise rather than achievement. Teach our family to trust Your word, keep our own promises, and let Your grace change the way we live with one another. Amen.