LastCall: Faith that Takes Action -Bob Caldwell

Faith that Takes Action  17:4-5 As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. God renews His promise to Abram, a promise that has become more impossible than ever. Abram is getting old, much older. His wife is still barren. But this is exactly what God was waiting for. Abram was called by God to be the “father of all who believe” (Rom. 4:11). And to become the “father of faith,” God had to bring Him to the complete end of himself. Now it was impossible! This is where a faith that glorifies God really begins. It begins where we end. What God now asks Abram to do is to act upon God’s promise even though there is “zero” evidence, naturally speaking, that God’s promise is possible. First, he is to change his name. It’s to be Abraham, “father of many nations.” Now that would take raw faith! From now on, though he has no children through Sarai, he’s to introduce himself saying, “Hi! I’m a father of many nations.” That takes faith in God’s promise alone. To speak about a future promise as if it’s so sure it’s spoken of in the present tense! Secondly, he is to, by faith, have all the men who are willing to identify with this future promise, including himself, be circumcised. This is an unavoidable part of a life of faith. In some way we will most certainly have to step out in faith and act and as if the promise is as sure as God Himself. It’s like Peter. He had to act on Jesus’ call to walk on water. He had to by faith step out of the boat and plant his feet on the water. Real faith will eventually have to act on the word God has given, faith without obedient steps of faith is no faith at all.
Genesis 17:1-27 The Sign of the Covenant 1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” 9 And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; 11 and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. 13 He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
1 ninety nine – Abram had been married to Sarai around 50 years by this time and been in the land of promise for nearly 25 years. Ishmael had been born 13 years earlier. almighty God – El Shaddai (Heb.) This emphasizes the all sufficient power of God to fulfill His intentions no matter what the opposing forces may be that stand in the way. walk before Me – The expression of God’s all sufficient power is promised to be revealed in Abram’s life as he lives His life in light of God’s presence and will. blameless – tamin (Heb.) This is the other condition of life that God asks Abram to live in if he is to see the power God has to fulfill the promises in his life. To be blameless is not a term referring to sinless perfection. It is to completely and fully do what God requires in the context of one’s life and calling to the best of the ability God has given us. v. 3 fell on his face – an act of humility and submission to the renewed call and requirement of God v. 5 Abraham – The meaning of Abram is “high father;” the meaning of Abraham is “father of a multitude.” Abraham is to accept this new name by faith, even though he is still childless. v. 7 My covenant – God’s commitment to Abram is reaffirmed. It is God’s Word that is as sure as God Himself and these words from God must be enough for Abraham. v. 10 circumcised – This outward physical act was to be a “sign” (v. 11) of the faith in God to fulfill His promise. Without a commitment to obedient faith, this outward symbol would be a meaningless ritual. The Christian application of circumcision is taught in Colossians 2:11-12, Romans 2:28-29, and Philippians 3:3. v. 14 uncircumcised – The person who was not living by faith and obedience to God, as evidenced by their refusal to perform this act, was to be separated from the people of God.
15 Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” 19 Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” 22 Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham. 23 So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very same day Abraham was circumcised, and his son Ishmael; 27 and all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
v. 15 Sarah – This name means “princess” and points to the royalty that will come from her descendents. v. 17 laughed – Abraham seems to be carried into an emotional state of amazement. It sounds so good, but it also sounds “to good to be true.” v. 18 Oh that Ishmael – Abraham is seeking to persuade God to fulfill His promise within what is humanly possible. This struggle of faith is not incompatible with the honest struggle all people have with faith. The key is to yield to God’s corrective response to our unbelief. v. 20 a great nation – From Ishmael came the Arab people. v. 27 all the men – Included in this right were all those who came under the household of Abraham. These men were not direct family members of Abraham but came under the blessing of the promises to Abraham by submitting to circumcision in this covenant relationship with God.

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