And now today, Friends, we return back to the 17th Chapter of the Book of Genesis.  If you have your Bible, will you turn there to the 8th Verse.  

Now last time, you’ll recall we said that the 17th Chapter of the Book of Genesis is the key chapter of the book; some think of the Bible.  At least it’s an outstanding book; that is, this chapter is!  

And the thing that’s important here is the covenant.  Thirteen times the word “covenant” occurs.  God makes His covenant here with Abraham.  And there’s two things that are in the covenant.  God promised him a Seed.  He’d be the father of many nations and, second, He’d give him a Land.  Now we’re looking at that last part.  Verse 8.

And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

And again there’s something that’s important in this covenant.  God tells him what He will do.  God says, “I will…I will make thee exceedingly fruitful…I’ll make nations of thee…I WILL establish my covenant…I will give unto thee and thy seed…and I will give you this land for an everlasting possession.”  Now we noticed the word “everlasting” before.  And that means that God has made a covenant with these people that’s an everlasting covenant.  And, since it is, it’s not one that’ll be easily broken.  It’s not one that’s going to run out.  God gave them an everlasting—an everlasting possession. 

Now they have been in that land on three occasions.  It’s theirs.  But the important thing is they only occupy it under certain conditions.  And God, first of all, sent them down into the land of Egypt, and they were disbursed there.  And that’s where they became a nation.  They went down a family of about 70.  They came out a million and a half at least.  And then they were put out at the Babylonian captivity because they went into idolatry and were not witnessing for God.  Then we find that they went out again in 70 A.D.  After they had rejected their Messiah, they went out of that land.  And actually they’ve never been back.  

Three times God predicted they’d be put out of the land; three times He said they’d be returned.  They’ve been returned twice.  When they’re returned the next time, I take it that it means that they’ll never go out of it again.  At least that’s when the millennium takes place—is when God gathers them and brings them back in the land.  I do not consider the present return to the land a fulfillment.  I rather regard anyone who makes that statement dealing with sensationalism, and there’s so much of that in prophecy today; an attempt to make it very sensational.  Well, it’s sensational enough if you just take it as it is.  But the important thing is we ought not to be adding to it or have God say something He didn’t say at all.

Now in Verse 9, and I’m reading.

And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generation.  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.  And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.  (Genesis 17:9-11)

“Every man child among you shall be circumcised.”  Now that’s the badge of the covenant.  They didn’t do this in order to become a member of the covenant; they did this because they had the covenant from God.  And there’s all the difference in the world.  That’s the same place that “good works” occupies for the believer today.  You do not perform good works in order to get saved; you perform good works because you have been saved.  

And may I say it’s all the difference in the world.  As a boy, I remember when I went away from home, I did get into a lot of trouble.  But the one thing that kept me from going – and I think becoming an absolute renegade – was the fact of my dad.  I said because I’m a son of my father, I won’t do this or I won’t enter into this.  I refrained because of that.  Now I didn’t become his son because I didn’t do certain things; I was already his son, but because I was.  Now that’s the badge of the covenant is circumcision.  The thing that put them under the covenant wasn’t circumcision; that was the badge of it; the evidence of it.  And God gives this to them now.  And Verse 12 (and 13), He says:

And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.  He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you….  And if you’ll notice how meticulous the record is concerning the birth of Christ; how all the law was fulfilled in connection with the birth of this little baby–that He was a son of Abraham.  He was the son of David.  He was in the line.  And on the eighth day, he was circumcised.  He was born under the law Paul says.

Now will you notice God says here that he that is born in thy house and he that is bought with thy money must needs be circumcised and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.  That’s the badge of it.  They didn’t have to do that in order to get a covenant; God had already made it for them.  And I trust that you see that.  That’s so important to see!  The same thing is true today.   A great many people think, “Well, if I join this church or if I’m baptized, I’ll be saved.”  No, My Friend, you don’t do those to get saved.  Now if you are saved, let me say as a pastor I think you’ll do both of them.  I think you’ll join the church and I think you’ll be baptized.  But you don’t do that to get saved.  We need to keep the cart where it belongs, following the horse, and not get the cart before the horse.  In fact, the horse is in the cart today for the thinking of many relative to salvation.  

Now in Verse 14:

And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

Now you see the fact that there were those that disobeyed, and you’ll find out that practically—the entire nation had disobeyed when they came out of the land of Egypt.  But the thing was that did not militate against the covenant; it just meant that individual would be put out.  But as far as the nation was concerned, no individual or group could destroy this covenant God had made with Abraham and his seed after him.  It’s an everlasting covenant.  That man has broken the covenant; he’s put out.  But the covenant stands, that’s how marvelous it is!

And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.  (Genesis 17:15)

And I have actually been pronouncing it incorrectly all through here.  And I’m not about to change it.  It’s Sarai would be the correct pronunciation before now.  Well, if I’d started saying Sarai, somebody would have written to me and said,  “What’s happened to  your speaking.  You don’t seem to be able to speak very clearly.”  Well, it was Sarai before; now it’s changed to Sarah.

And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.  (Genesis 17:16)

If old Abraham is going to be a father of nations, Sarah is going to be a mother of nations. 

Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?  (Genesis 17:17)

Old Abraham, he just laughed.  Now it’s not the laughter of unbelief.  I think it’s the laughter of just sheer joy that this could happen.  You know, every now and then in our lives God does something for us that’s just so wonderful—I’m sure you’ve had that experience—that you just feel like laughing.  You don’t know anything else to do, but just to laugh about it.  Well, this man Abraham didn’t dream this type of a thing could possibly happen.  You put yourself back in his position, and you will find out that this is just something unheard of.  

Now it was the deadness of Sarah’s womb, and he was dead.  Have you ever noticed how Paul described that?  I think I should turn to Romans 4 right now and share this with you.  Verse 4:17-22—

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.   Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.  And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

You see Abraham believed God, and he just absolutely is overwhelmed by the wonder and the goodness of God!  

But then, all of a sudden, a thought comes to him, and it’s like an arrow to his heart.  You know what?  He thinks of a little boy that’s his by the name of Ishmael.  Let me read Verse 18 now of Genesis 17.

And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

Abraham is saying now, O Lord, this little fellow that’s been growing up in my home—he’s attached to him; he was 14 years old when Abraham sent him out.  And you’ll find he sends him out a little later on, and the boy was 14 years old.  And I don’t think Abraham ever saw him again.  Broke his heart to send this boy.  After all, Friends, I don’t care you what you might think of Ishmael, he was Abraham’s son.  And Abraham loved his son.  And it was a heartbreak for him to have to give him up.  I’m of the opinion that he thought many, many times, “I made a great big mistake in taking Hagar.”  

You see, that was a sin that not only plagued him, Friends, but look over in that land today.  There’s been trouble in that land from the beginning.  Why?  Because of Abraham’s sin.  Don’t tell me sin’s a little thing or sin is something you get by with.  My Friend, the fruits of sin—God says, “Be not deceived.  God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”  (Galatians 6:7)  Not something similar, but just that.  And this man Abraham is certainly reaping.  “O that Ishmael might live before thee.”

And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed—

(Genesis 18:19)

In other words, God said, “No.  I won’t accept it.  That was wrong.  And, Friends, don’t come along now because it’s in the Bible, and say, “Well, now, God approved polygamy.”  He’s just condemning it as much as He possibly can.  I can’t see He’s approving of it at all.  

I’m reading Verse 19.

…and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after hm.   And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.  But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.  

(Genesis 17:19-21)

In other words, God holds to the promise that He’s made.  God is not to be deterred or deferred from this at all.  He’s going to do the exact thing that He said he would do.  And He speaks as if Isaac is already born and already in their midst.  But He speaks of things that are not as if they are, and it’s going to be the next year.

Now we find Verse 22. 

And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.

In other words, Abraham, you just as well keep quiet.  No use any longer.  God has already decided this.  And, Friends, there are times and there are things that you and I just as well not tell the Lord about in the way of petitioning Him.  There are certain things you don’t need to ask the Lord.  There are certain things that you don’t need to keep asking.  There are times when you’ve said enough and you don’t need to say any more.  I’m of the opinion that a great many folks just pester the Lord, sometimes in a prayer, and they already have the answer, which, of course, is no.  

Now God says to Abraham, let alone now; this is enough.  You needn’t mention this anymore.  I have not accepted it, and I do not intend to.  Now God’s going to hear the prayer of Abraham a little later, and we’re going to find out that God listened to Abraham.  But there are certain matters—and I find a great many people today, they pray about things that maybe God doesn’t intend to hear or answer at all.  And I’m very careful.  I try to be very careful today about asking people to pray about certain things.  I want to at least feel like there’s a reasonable chance of God hearing and answering.

Now we find Verse 23, and this reveals the interest Abraham had in this boy.

And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.  And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.  And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.   In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.  And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.  (Genesis 17:23-27)

Now this is the badge of the covenant that God has made with Abraham.  Now somebody’s going to say, “Well, Ishmael, why was he included?”  Well, hasn’t God promised he’s going to be a great nation also?  May I say he’s included in it in that sense, but he’s not to be the one that God had promised to Abraham at the beginning.  He’s not to be the father of the nation that God will use and not the nation through whom the Messiah will come.  That’s very important to see at this juncture.  In fact, it’s all important.

CHAPTER 18

THE BLESSED VERSUS BLASTED LIFE

Now that brings us to the 18th Chapter.  And actually the 18th Chapter here is a chapter that this one and the next you wonder why it’s included in the Bible actually, until you get to the New Testament.  And I think we’ll see why later on.  And this is, of course, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Now will you notice that they’re rather lengthy chapters—well, I say lengthy; 33 verses—but I’m going to hit now some high points in this chapter and probably in the next chapter also.  But this is very important to see.

You see in Chapter 18 what could be called a “blessed life,” and you could see in Chapter 19, down in Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot’s “blasted life,” all because of a decision that was made.  

Now I’m reading Verse 1 of Chapter 18, and here God tells Abraham about the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Abraham’s intercession on behalf of the cities of the plains.  And this is an illustration, I think, of blessed Christian life in fellowship with God.  

And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.  (Genesis 18:1)

You see Old Abraham down there now in Mamre.  He’s an old man, by the way.  

And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground…

Notice the hospitality that Abraham extends.  Now the little story I told last time, you see has a basis of fact at least.  I don’t think it ever took place, but the point is this man was a very gracious, hospitable man.  

And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:   Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.  (Genesis 18:3-4)

Now you see what he’s doing.  Of course, that seems very strange to tell a stranger that comes to see you, wash your feet and come in.  We wouldn’t quite say that today.  But that was an old—probably the oldest custom that is known.  Remember, yonder in the upper room, our Lord washed the disciples’ feet.  It has a tremendous spiritual message there.  And here, you see Abraham says wash your feet.  That is a token of real hospitality is when someone comes into your home and takes off their shoes, their feet are washed.  

And by the way, in that day, they didn’t take off their hats.  But they did take off their shoes.  Today we reverse it.  You come into visit somebody, you leave your shoes on, and take off your hat.  I’m not sure which is right.  I like the idea myself of taking off shoes.  I like to go in the summer time barefooted.  I wish it were possible.  When I’m out in the Hawaiian Islands, I put my shoes up and I wear these little tongs about, and go barefooted as much as possible.  I don’t even put my shoes back on the whole time I’m there.  I’d love to go barefoot.  I think this was a great custom.  It sure made you feel at home to take off your shoes and wash your feet and rest yourself under the tree.  Abraham is really entertaining they royally.  And he says:

And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.  And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.  And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.  (Genesis 18:5-8)

Isn’t that a marvelous way of entertaining in such a royal way.  But we’ll have to leave off there, and we’ll join Abraham’s party next time.