The Father of Nations – (Genesis 17)

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and identified Himself as God Almighty, El Shaddai. At the sight of the LORD, Abram fell facedown in reverence, and the LORD instructed him to live in faithful obedience and be blameless in his conduct. God’s expectation for Abraham to be blameless did not imply sinless perfection but rather wholehearted devotion, integrity, and faithfulness. The Hebrew word tamim signifies completeness and moral uprightness rather than flawlessness.

Just as Abraham’s righteousness was credited to him through faith, so too we are made righteous before God through Jesus Christ, who took our sins upon Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). Though no one is sinless, we can live blamelessly by walking in faith, obedience, and repentance, continually relying on God’s grace. God then reaffirmed His covenant, declaring that He would greatly increase Abram’s descendants and make him the father of many nations.

No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham – Genesis 17:5 (NIV)

God changing Abram’s name to Abraham signified a new identity and a redefined purpose. “Abram,” meaning “exalted father,” was changed to “Abraham,” meaning “father of many,” reaffirming God’s covenant promise. This change emphasized that God would fulfill His word, making Abraham the father of many nations.

Though Abraham and Sarah were advanced in age, this was not a cruel irony but an assurance from God that His long-standing promise would come to pass. God pledged to make Abraham fruitful, with nations and kings descending from him. He established an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants, vowing to be their God and protector. Additionally, He promised to give them the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession

Converts are often encouraged to change their name to help them integrate into their new community and to symbolize leaving behind their past. Some view a new name as a sign of a fresh identity and renewed purpose, often referencing God’s renaming of Abram to Abraham. However, God changed Abram’s name as a reminder of His covenant, not because Abram was adopting a new religion or belief. This passage is sometimes misunderstood, leading people to believe that a name change signifies transformation, a new beginning in faith, and a commitment to a different way of life.

People often encourage (sometimes even force) new converts to their religion/denomination to change their names as a sign of their dedication to God. However, merely changing a name without a true change of heart is not what God desires. It is similar to a man getting a tattoo of his wife or girlfriend as a symbol of love while being unfaithful to her. Outward signs of commitment mean nothing if there is no real transformation within. Baptism follows a similar pattern—many publicly declare their devotion to God while still clinging to their own desires, turning it into a hypocritical oath rather than a sincere commitment.

The Covenant of Circumcision

God commanded Abraham and his descendants to keep His covenant by circumcising every male as a sign of their commitment. This applied to all males, including those born in the household or purchased as servants, and was to be performed at eight days old. Circumcision was an everlasting covenant, and any male who refused it would be cut off for breaking God’s covenant.

This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. – Genesis 17:10 (NIV)

In Genesis 15, God alone passed between the pieces of the sacrificed animal, signifying that the covenant depended entirely on Him, not on Abraham. Similarly, God did not require Abraham to undergo circumcision for His promise to be fulfilled. Instead, the covenant of circumcision served as a lasting reminder for Abraham’s family of the commitment God had made with them.

The LORD chose circumcision as the sign of His covenant with Abraham by taking an existing practice and giving it new meaning. In the ancient world, circumcision was a rite of passage into puberty, but God redefined it as a sign of His covenant with Abraham and his descendants. This pattern of redefining existing customs can be seen elsewhere in Scripture.

Communion was originally part of the Passover meal, but Jesus gave it new significance, making the bread and wine symbols of His body and blood. Similarly, baptism was initially introduced by the Pharisees as a ritual for converting people to Judaism. After Christ, the disciples continued baptizing without fully understanding its deeper meaning. Even today, many view baptism as merely a sign of repentance rather than grasping its true significance.

For Abraham, circumcision became a mark of belonging to God at the most personal and intimate level. It was also a sign of commitment, symbolizing his trust in and service to the LORD. Some believe it functioned as an oath, meaning, “May I be cut off from my people as my foreskin has been cut off if I am not faithful to the LORD” (see Genesis 17:14).

One may ask that if Jesus said that we are all descendants of Abraham, then why don’t Christians continue the practice of circumcision, which God commanded for all of Abraham’s descendants? Other Abrahamic religions strictly uphold this covenant, yet Christians believe that Christ established a new and final covenant, making additional rituals or traditions unnecessary to affirm their commitment to God.

If God commanded all of Abraham’s descendants to be circumcised, why have Christians abandoned this practice while continuing to observe other ancient rituals, both biblical and cultural? For instance, head shaving in India has no biblical foundation, yet it persists. Likewise, traditions such as quinceañeras, bar mitzvahs, and other coming-of-age ceremonies remain widely practiced.

This selective approach reveals an inconsistency in what we choose to follow. Some traditions are dismissed as outdated or negated by Christ, while others—often shaped by cultural sentiment—are upheld, even if they have pagan origins. In doing so, we fail to fully embrace the freedom Christ’s sacrifice grants from all rituals and traditions. Instead, we reject only the ones we find inconvenient, such as circumcision, while clinging to those that align with personal or cultural preferences.

Sarai Renamed to Sarah

God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. Genesis 17:15 (NIV)

God renaming Sarai affirmed that she was included in Abraham’s blessing, not any other woman. By changing both Abraham’s and Sarah’s names, God renewed His covenant with them, emphasizing that they were one before Him, despite their past actions. Abraham had sold his wife to a foreign king for wealth and protection, while Sarah had prostituted her husband Abraham in an attempt to secure a son.

When Abraham heard that God’s promise would be fulfilled through Sarah and not through any other wife, he laughed and wished for God to establish His covenant through Ishmael—the son born out of his wrongdoing.

Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” – Genesis 17:17-18 (NIV)

Abraham’s wavering faith in God’s promise is evident when he reacts with laughter at the thought of Sarah bearing a child in her old age. This moment reveals his lingering disbelief. In response, God names Sarah’s son Isaac, meaning “he laughs,” perhaps as a lasting reminder of Abraham’s doubt. In contrast, Hagar’s son is named Ishmael, meaning “God hears,” signifying God’s response to her distress.

God Blesses Ishmael

God promised to bless Ishmael, making him fruitful and the father of twelve rulers, forming a great nation. However, the covenant would be established with Isaac, whom Sarah would bear the following year. After speaking with Abraham, God departed. On the same day, Abraham obeyed God’s command and circumcised his son Ishmael, all male members of his household, and himself at the age of ninety-nine. Ishmael was thirteen at the time. Every male, whether born in his household or purchased, was circumcised along with him.

Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, and his son Ishmael was thirteen – Genesis 17:24-25 (NIV)

We often overlook the fact that Ishmael was Abraham’s firstborn, and his mother was legally Abraham’s wife. Yet, as seen many times throughout Scripture, God chose to bless the second son instead. From a worldly perspective, Ishmael seemed to be the favored one—wealthier and more powerful. In fact, generations later, one of Ishmael’s descendants even purchased a descendant of Isaac as a slave (Joseph).

However, Isaac’s lineage carried a far greater, though less obvious, blessing. It was through his descendants that God would send the Redeemer—the promised snake crusher—who would die for the sins of the world. Even today, we often misunderstand God’s blessings. True blessing means being part of God’s plan, yet we tend to measure it by worldly standards, choosing the path of Ishmael over the path of Isaac.

Discussion Questions

1. How can God expect Abraham to be blameless? Is it even possible for anyone to be blameless in God’s sight?
2. What was the significance of God changing Abram’s name to Abraham?
3. Why did the LORD choose circumcision as the sign of His covenant with Abraham?
4. Why don’t we Christians follow circumcision today?
5. Why did God change Sarai’s name as well?
6. How is Isaac the Blessed One if Ishmael enjoyed greater success in life?