Introduction

1.          Today’s society thrives on big events, speed, noise, movement and drama.

2.         Many mistakenly think that walking with God is a quick and easily acquired discipline.

3.      Abram had great faith in God.

His faith in God led him to struggle and try to understand the promise of God in making him to be a father of a great nation (Gen 12:2, 15, 16) and father of many nations (Gen 17:4).

4.         So, you see, walking with God is not easy and simple. We need discipline and understanding.

What was Abraham doing after he left Egypt?

He live a quiet life, waiting for God to do His work. 

I.    Waiting on God (Gen 17:1, 2)

1.          Silent waiting (Gen 17:1a)

            “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram.”

a.          Thirteen years of silence between Genesis 16 and 17.

b.         Abram and Sarai knew that God had promised them a son (Gen 15:4).

c.          In Genesis 16, we read that Sarai made a proposal to Abram, “Go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her.”

d.         Such proposal was accepted in those days.

2.         Reassurance

a.          Abram was 99 years old (17:1a).

            God said unto him, “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect” (17:1b).

b.         God had not forgotten Abram.

c.          Sometimes we pray and there is no answer from God. 

II.   Walking with God.

God told Abram to “walk before me” (17:1c).

But what does it mean to walk before God, or walk with God.

From this passage, we learn at least 4 ingredients of walking with God.

1.          Being quiet so God can speak (17:3–8).

a.          When God speaks — He speaks through His Word.

b.         When God appears to Abram, Abram closes his mouth, and opens his ears.

c.          God not only reaffirms His covenant, He also changes his name from Abram to Abraham.

            He reminds him of a Promised Land for his descendants.

(1)        God reaffirms His covenant (17:2).

God said, “I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly” (17:2).

(2)        God changed his name Abram to Abraham (17:5).

(3)        God reaffirms His promise to give him the land for his descendants (17:8).

2.         Listening for specific directions (17:9–14).

            Because Abraham listens closely to God, he learns how he and his children will receive a mark of distinction, and that will set them apart as God’s special people (17:10, 11).

a.          Circumcision was practised by primitive people.

b.         Now, God used the practice of circumcision and invested it with new meaning.

(1)        Circumcision is a mark or sign of God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants.

(2)        Circumcision was to be strictly observed.

[1]        He said, “Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.

This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.” (Gen 17:9, 10).

[2]        Abraham listened to God’s instructions and obeyed.

c.          Christians also have an identifying mark.

            “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead” (Col 2:11, 12) 

3.         Struggling for understanding (Gen 17:15–21)

a.          For the first time, Abraham was told that Sarah would bear a son.

b.         Abraham collapsed in laughter at the prospect that he and Sarah would have a son (17:17).

(1)        But God patiently repeated His promise.

            “Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac” (Gen 17:19).

(2)        Finally Abraham understands. 

4.         Obeying swiftly and completely (17:22–27).

a.          As soon as God had finished speaking with Abraham, he got up and acted.

b.         So, we see that walking with God is not passive.

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