Genesis 17

Scripture:  Genesis chapter 17

Observation:  God reaffirms His covenant with Abram when Abram is 99 years old.  God changes Abram's name to Abraham, and Sarai"s name to Sarah.  He also tells Abraham that he and his descendants, all the males, must be circumcised as a sign of their covenant with the Lord.  When God tells Abraham that these descendants will come through Sarah, Abraham laughs to himself.  He is almost 100 years old, and Sarah is 90.   He finds it impossible that he can have a child with his wife at this age, and asks God to bless Ishmael instead.  But God's plans are higher.  While He promises to bless Ishmael, God tells Abraham that by the same time the following year Sarah will have a son which they will name Isaac, which means he laughs.  As soon as the Lord leaves, Abraham himself and all the men in his household, including the servants, are circumcised.

Application:  Explaining circumcision to my 12 year old son...let's just say he wasn't very keen on the idea!  But when we compare what God was asking Abraham to do, to what He was promising to do for Abraham in return, this obedience was a small price to pay.  The important point here is that circumcision was done so that God's nation could be different from the world.  They had a physical sign that singled them out.  While circumcision is not required of Jesus' followers, we are still called to be different.  "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2).  I am called to worship God with my whole being, that the world may call me different and the Lord may call me blessed.

Prayer:  Father, the world will look at me and laugh.  They will mock me for not following in their footsteps.  I don't care.  I want to walk in Your ways, whether it's popular or not, whether it appears funny to everyone around me, because You are the audience I want to appeal to.  May my words, my actions, my attitude, be pleasing to You dear God, no matter what anyone else thinks.  In Jesus' name, Amen.