God Almighty (El-Shaddai)

Good morning, everyone or anyone :-) . Well things are good here in the Panhandle, just getting things ready for youth camp. Falls Creek, wow! I went to youth camp back in the 70's and it was nothing like Falls Creek, but then I guess nothing really is.

So we will look at Genesis 17:1-9 today and then I will post chapter 17:9-27 in two weeks. It will also be two weeks before I can post my next “I AM” study.

Chapter 17 contains articles of agreement covenanted and concluded upon between the great Jehovah, the Father of mercies, on the one part, and devout Abram, the father of the faithful, on the other part. Abram is therefore called "the friend of God," not only because he was the man of his counsel, but because he was the man of his covenant; both these secrets were with him. Mention was made of this covenant (Gen 15:18), but here it is particularly drawn up, and put into the form of a covenant, that Abram might have strong comfort.

Genesis 17 has been called the covenant chapter. Notice how many times it appears. Why did God wait so long to make this covenant with Abraham? There were 3 steps in preparing Abraham for the covenant:

1^st – God took Abraham out of Ur of the Caldees.

2^nd – God developed faith in the life of Abraham.

3^rd – God made a covenant with Abraham.

God was preparing the heart of Abraham over a period of 25 years.

CHAPTER 17 AT A GLANCE 

In the 99th year of Abram's life, God appears to him again and announces His name as God Almighty (El-Shaddai), and commands Abram to walk uprightly before God, v. 1.

God proposes to renew the covenant, v. 2.

Abram's prostration, v. 3.

The covenant is specified, v. 4.

Abram's name is changed to Abraham, and the reason for it is given, v. 5.

The privileges of the covenant enumerated, v. 6-8.

The conditions of the covenant to be observed, not only by Abraham, but by all his posterity, v. 9.

The rite of circumcision was appointed as a sign or token of the covenant, v. 10-11.

The age at which and the persons on whom this rite was to be performed, v. 12-13.

The danger of neglecting this rite, v. 14.

Sarai's name was changed to Sarah, and a particular promise was made to her, v. 15-16.

Abraham's joy at the prospect of the performance of a matter which, in the course of nature, seemed impossible, v. 17.

His request for the preservation and prosperity of Ishmael, v. 18.

The birth and blessedness of Isaac foretold, v. 19.

Great prosperity promised to Ishmael, v. 20.

But the covenant was to be established not in Ismael's, but in Isaac's posterity, v. 21.

Abraham, Ishmael, and all the males in the family were circumcised, v. 23-27.

(From Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Biblesoft)

Abraham

The Man of Faith	Gen. 15:6
The Man of Intercession	Gen. 18:23
The Man of Obedience	Gen. 12:4
The Man of Peace	Gen. 12:8
The Man of Courage	Gen. 14:14
The Man of Hospitality	Gen. 18:1-8
The Man of Testimony	Gen. 12:7-8

Genesis 17:1-9

17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. 2 I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers."

3 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. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God."

9 Then God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come

THE ALMIGHTY GOD and ABRAM (vv.17: 1-9)

Abram was ninety-nine years old, thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael. During that interval he had enjoyed the comforts of communion with God, but had been favored with no special revelation as formerly. It was a period of seemingly spiritual desertion, probably on account of his hasty and blamable marriage with Hagar. Also the promise of his son was so long deferred that the faith of Abram and Sarai was more than likely tried. Now God's power at their extreme age would be displayed. The Lord appeared-some visible manifestation of the divine presence, or radiant glory of overpowering brilliance. - (From Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)

I am the Almighty God ('El Shadday). Thirteen years later God appeared to Abram with a reassurance, a challenge, and a richer promise. He changed Abram's name and that of his wife. Their names were now Abraham (father of many nations) and Sarah (Princess), she would be the (mother of nations).

He gave specific directions concerning the rite of circumcision. The divine name ('El Shadday), with its message that, "Nothing is impossible with God, who is all-powerful and all-sufficient," must have brought unusual encouragement to Abram.

The word ('El Shadday) evidently calls attention to both of these attributes of God. Early Jewish scholars claimed that it was derived from (sh-da), meaning, "He who is sufficient."

The Septuagint gives us (hikanos), "sufficient." Perhaps the translator should stay as near the meaning of "all-powerful" as possible, especially since the word ('El) speaks of power. The One who has all power also has all resources to supply every need of his people.

(From The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press)

The present form of the covenant is not identical with the former.

• The former referred chiefly to the land; this new one chiefly to the seed.
• The former dwelt much on temporal things; this new one rises to spiritual things.
• The former specifies only Abram; this new one mentions both Abram and Sarai.
• At the former period God formally entered into covenant with Abram; at present he takes the first step in the fulfillment of the covenant, seals it with a token and a perpetual ordinance, and gives Abram and Sarai new names in token of a new nature.

There was an interval of fourteen years at least between the ratification of the covenant and the preparation for the fulfillment of its conditions, during which Abraham's faith had time to unfold.

(From Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)

The covenant had been made with Abram for at least fourteen years, and yet Abram remained without any visible sign of its accomplishment, and was merely pointed in faith to the inviolable character of the promise of God. Jehovah now appeared to Him again, when he was ninety-nine years old, twenty-four years after his migration, and thirteen after the birth of Ishmael, to give effect to the covenant and prepare for its execution. Having come down to Abram in a visible form (v. 22), He said to him, "I am El Shaddai (almighty God): walk before Me and be blameless."
(From Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament: New Updated Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.)