This Time Next Year

Genesis 17:21, 23-27 NLT

“But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.”

On that very day Abraham took his son, Ishmael, and every male in his household, including those born there and those he had bought. Then he circumcised them, cutting off their foreskins, just as God had told him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, and Ishmael, his son, was thirteen. Both Abraham and his son, Ishmael, were circumcised on that same day, along with all the other men and boys of the household, whether they were born there or bought as servants. All were circumcised with him.

Abraham’s heart must have jumped in his throat. THIS time next year…. This TIME next year….This time NEXT year…. This time next YEAR! Abraham sowed a lot of spiritual seeds of faith and obedience to God in his life and he’s about to reap his harvest.

What happens when hope is activated?

Hope removes doubts

Like an eraser wiping marker off a whiteboard, all of Abraham’s doubts were deleted away from his heart. God never lied to Abraham and he knew it was as good as done. Joyful expectancy rose up in Abraham. Without doubt, this time next year, Abraham and Sarah will be the parents of a special baby boy.

Hope tightens our bond with God

Abraham cut covenant with God in the most intimate, private, sensitive part of himself. Everytime Abraham took a shower or visited the restroom, he would be reminded of his covenant. Everytime Abraham made love to Sarah, he would be reminded of his covenant. Every private action involved God and His covenant.

Hope releases favor

Favor is defined as preferential treatment and approval (1). God has kept a record of all the times Abraham kept his faith in Him and obeyed His commands and His regard for Abraham is tremendous. Of all the men living on earth at the time, Abraham was chosen to inherit the legacy of faith. 

Favor spills into everything Abraham does and who he has charge over. God granted Abraham such favor with Ishmael and all the men he had authority over, he was able to convince them to join him in this covenant on the very same day! 

Hope produces increase of blessings

All of the men, including Ishmael, would also be circumcised. They would also be reminded that God was watching them in the most private moments of their lives. What incentive to live pure and holy! But, the rewards were great and God’s blessings would follow them as it did Abraham. It would be a blessing these men would pass down to their own descendants as well. 

Hope prepares for the new normal

God was preparing Abraham and his tribe a year in advance for the change ahead. Sarah is the princess of a multitude and to become a miracle mother. A miracle prince is to be born, his name will be Isaac, and he will continue God’s amazing covenant. A day will come where some of these men will answer not only to Abraham, but to Isaac as well. 

Let’s pray:

Father, You are El Shaddai, God Almighty. Thank You for circumcising my heart so that I am aware that You are watching the most private moments of my life. Hope in Your word removes my doubts and bonds me closer to You. I am grateful for Your favor on my life and I pray that the blessings in my life overflow into the lives of others exponentially. Hope in Your promises prepares me for what’s ahead. In Jesus name, Amen.

© 2019 Foundedonthebible.com

References:

1) https://www.dictionary.com/browse/favor

Don't Lose Hope

Genesis 17:17 NLT

Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?” So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!”

Abraham and God have a long history at this point. God has pulled him through many situations. But, it has been a very long time since Abraham was promised a son.

Outwardly bowing, inwardly laughing

In Chapter 17, God introduces Himself as God Almighty. Next, God warns Abraham to serve Him faithfully and live a blameless life. Then God declares Abraham and Sarah’s future and legacy. When Abraham heard God’s plans for him, he bows. Bowing before the Almighty should have been an act of reverence. But, as soon as Abraham’s knees hit the ground, he burrowed his chin into his chest and snickered. Obviously, he was challenged by all this information and couldn’t wrap his mind around it

It’s just that this promise was made so long ago.  Time has taken its toll on Abraham’s and Sarah’s bodies and they are both sterile. The emotional high from the joyful expectation of a son had turned into utter disappointment and despondency. Dismissing everything he was told, Abraham simply asks God to bless Ishmael. 

God rectifies Abraham’s understanding

Rude, huh? I didn’t read that a thunderbolt struck Abraham as the earth swallowed him up. Lost hope had compromised his faith in the integrity of God’s word. God understood where he was coming from and reaffirmed His promise to Abraham. Once again, God demonstrates His love for this man by rectifying his erroneous understanding and reigniting his hope. 

Genesis 17:19 NLT

But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant.

What about Ishmael?

Abraham is concerned about Ishmael’s future. Out of His respect for Abraham, God blesses Ishmael. 

Genesis 17:20 NLT

As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.

A promise and a timeline

God completes His conversation with Abraham with a promise and a timeline.

Genesis 17:21 NLT

But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.” When God had finished speaking, he left Abraham.

When God is finished speaking

Let me paraphrase ‘when God had finished speaking’. In other words, when Abraham understood God’s plans and accepted His terms; only then did He leave. What was God doing? He was restoring hope, the fervent expectation of a promise to be fulfilled (1). God loved Abraham and kept working with him until he got on board. 

God can only be El Shaddai, Almighty God, when we agree to work together with Him so we could move forward in His plans and purposes for us. 

Let’s pray:

Father, I admit that there are promises in Your Word that I have waited so long and lost hope in ever seeing fulfilled.  I ask You to rectify my thinking and clarify my understanding concerning Your will for me. Thank You for working with me until I understand Your plans. Thank You for restoring my hope. I agree to work together with You so Your plans and purposes for my life are fulfilled. In Jesus name, Amen.

© 2019 Foundedonthebible.com

References:

1. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/hope?s=t

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Her Name Will Be Sarah

Genesis 17:15-16 NLT

Then God said to Abraham, “Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah. And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”

God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, and now He changes Sarai’s name to Sarah.

Who is Sarai?

Sarai is the woman who followed Abram from Ur in Genesis 12. She left her family behind obeying the Word of the Lord. Sarai put her life in danger in order to spare Abram’s life when they crossed into Egypt, also in Genesis 12. God dramatically saved Sarai from the wrath of Pharaoh. A plague invaded the household and pharaoh was prevented from having intercourse with her. By Genesis 16, Sarai gave Abram her very own servant to have intercourse with him so they could raise this child as their own. Looking at her history, it is obvious that Sarai would do anything for Abraham.

Sarai’s Position

God speaks to Abraham about Sarai, his wife. In God’s eyes, Sarai is Abraham’s covenant partner. Sarai is bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh, they are one spirit. Like Adam and Eve, they stand as equals, side by side, in covenant with God. 

Not just Abraham’s princess

Just as God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, He changed Sarai’s name to Sarah. Sarai means ‘my lady’ or ‘my princess’ (1). She was the exclusive princess to her biological father who named her, and to Abraham and their caravan.  But, now Sarah is promoted to a princess of a multitude (2). She is the daughter of the greatest monarch, God Almighty, El Shaddai.

God wants Sarah to put Him first in her life

Like Abraham, Sarah had her faults. Her desire for a son was to please Abraham and to continue his legacy. But, God wanted her to put Him first so she would raise a son who would worship Him and continue this amazing covenant. As far as God was concerned, this was Sarah’s exclusive destiny and no one else would take her place. When Sarah makes God first and submits to His will, He would reward her with blessings beyond her wildest dreams. Not only will she be the princess of El Shaddai, but she will also become the matriarch of nations!

Let’s Pray:

Father,

You know my faults. But, You have a destiny designed specifically for me and no one can take my place. I submit to Your will and choose to follow Your destiny for my life. Thank You for blessing me beyond my wildest dreams. In Jesus name, Amen.

© 2019 foundedonthebible.com

References:

1) https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H8297&t=KJV

2) https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H8283&t=KJV

God Calls You By Name- Hidden In Plain Sight

Genesis 17:9-14 NLT

Then God said to Abraham, “Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant. You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility. This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised. You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you. From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased. All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of my everlasting covenant. Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant.”

What can we learn about circumcision?

Unseen

Circumcision takes place in a private area. Enough said.

Distinction

Circumcised males in covenant with God live a lifestyle that is radically contrary to the cultures that surround them. Even though circumcision is located privately, everyone around them are aware of their high moral standard and why they adhere to that standard.

Fertility

Circumcision takes place in the area of fertility. His seed is dedicated to God. All of the children will be raised to be devoted to God.   

Worship

Circumcision is an act of worship. A circumcised man would always be reminded of his covenant every time he performed sexual intercourse. His body is a temple and all of his activities are dedicated to God.

500 years later, God tells Moses about an even deeper relationship and covenant. 

Deuteronomy 30:6 NIV

The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.

What happens when the heart is circumcised? 

Hidden

The Lord’s light illuminates the human spirit exposing every hidden motive (Proverbs 20:27). Our motivation and intentions should be pure and holy. 

Distinction

A circumcised heart lives a lifestyle that is in conformity to God’s Word. Sin becomes repulsive and we lose desire to participate in its practices. It takes courage, faith, and dedication to uphold godly standards. Our lifestyles should obviously contrast popular culture.  

Fertility

In Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost, Peter preached the good news of the Gospel to the crowd and those words cut (circumcised) their hearts. 3000 people accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior that day. Ever since, many have accepted Jesus into their hearts and have become children of God. Our lives should reproduce followers of Jesus.

Worship

Outwardly, we look just like any ordinary person. But, because our heart is circumcised, we are very conscious of God’s ever abiding presence. We willingly and joyfully please God with our thoughts, words, and deeds as an act of worship and adoration.

Yes, circumcision happens in the most private area of the soul. But, its mark is obvious to everyone. No one would doubt that circumcision has taken place. It truly is a mark that is hidden in plain sight.

Lets Pray:

Father,

Circumcise my heart, the places that are hidden and where no one can see. Give me the grace to reproduce spiritual children into the Kingdom of God. I hope that those who are familiar with me are aware that I live by Your moral standards because of my love and commitment to You. I pray that my witness will reproduce spiritual children who are devoted to You. My body is a temple and all of my activities are dedicated to You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

© 2019 foundedonthebible.com

God Calls You By Name Part 3- Faith And Destiny

Genesis 17:6-8 NLT

“I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them! “I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.”

First, God introduces Himself to 99 year old Abram as El Shaddai, Almighty God, the God of miracle wonder working power. Next, God changes Abram’s name which means ‘exalted father’, to Abraham, ‘the father of many nations’. It was imperative that Abraham can see past the present and far into the future. Now, God describes to  Abraham the legacy he will leave and the destiny of his many, many descendants! 

What does God promise?

Despite the fact that both Abraham and Sarai are very old and sterile, El Shaddai, the Almighty God is making some phenomenal promises: 

I will make you fruitful in your very old age, even though you are impotent. 

I will give you many generations of descendants through your biological son. 

I will give you descendants that will be highly influential and help change the world.

I will covenant with your descendants for all generations.

I will give you an eternal title deed to territory that will last until the end of the world.

I will be the only God to you and your descendants will worship forever.

Abraham must have been reeling. Think of the time, strategy, and energy he and Sarai had invested to produce Ishmael! How much simpler it will be to follow God’s instructions, expect Him to fulfill His promises, and acquire the unthinkable!  There was no man made strategy that could bring all of this to pass.

God always works with us

God has walked through many circumstances with Abraham these past 24 years. Not one time did God leave his side. Nope. He just kept working with Abraham and redirecting him when necessary until he fulfilled his divine destiny. Through all of it, God demonstrated His great love for this very flawed man. Why? Because Abraham will eventually come to the point of believing God’s promises. Abraham’s confidence and faith in God’s character will be absolute and complete.  

We are the children of Abraham, his spiritual descendants. These same promises hold true for us because we are a part of this great legacy. God demonstrated His great love for us as flawed as we are, by sending Jesus on the earth to die on the cross in our place.

God wants us to fulfill our divine destiny

God is waiting for us to have absolute confidence and faith in His character so He could be El Shaddai, God Almighty, in our lives. In order for our divine destiny to be fulfilled, we must be like Abraham and have absolute and complete faith in God’s word and character. Only then will God’s divine destiny for our lives be fulfilled.

Hebrews 11:6

It is impossible to please God without faith.

Let’s pray:

Father, I recognized You not just as my Father, but as God Almighty. Only You can do the impossible. In fact, the Scriptures tell me that with You, nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37). Thank You for demonstrating Your love for me. I know that You walk beside me and redirect me as needed. I am determined to believe Your promises and place absolute confidence and faith in Your character.  In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

© 2019 foundedonthebible.com

God Calls You By Name Part 2- From Abram to Abraham

Genesis 17: 2-5 NLT

“I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.” At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him, “This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations.”

God changes Abram’s name

Genesis 17 begins with God telling Abram to walk blameless before Him so He can demonstrate His mighty power. Abram’s relationship with God was to be pure, innocent, uncompromising, and without idols. Forever established is the fact that the heart and mind must not be occupied by anything or anyone that takes God’s place. Only after this step does God change Abram’s name to Abraham.

God changes Abram’s focus

From now on, Abram whose name means ‘exalted father’ (1) is changed to Abraham meaning ‘the father of a multitude of nations’. Abram will hear himself being called ‘the father of a multitude of nations’ all day long! In all of his business transactions, he will sign his documents ‘the father of a multitude of nations’. When Sarai chats with him at the dinner table and asks about his day, she will call him ‘the father of a multitude of nations’. When he introduced himself to others and shook their hand, he would tell them that his name is ‘the father of a multitude of nations’. Whenever God will speak to him from this moment on, He will call him ‘the father of a multitude of nations’.

What is the lesson here?

God was teaching Abraham to hear, speak, and remind himself of the promise of a son and future descendants. Abraham was learning to speak his promise into existence. This is how El Shaddai, God Almighty will do miracles on his behalf. This is how El Shaddai, God Almighty does miracles on our behalf. And this is why Abraham is called the ‘father of our faith’.

Let’s Pray:

Father, I will follow the example you have set with Abraham so You can be El Shaddai in my life. I will be mindful of what I depend on and remove all idols from my heart. My relationship with you is now my first priority. Change my focus from how I see my situation to how You see my situation. I will believe Your promises for me according to the Bible by reminding myself of those promises all day long, and by speaking them out loud. In Jesus name, Amen.

© 2019 foundedonthebible.com

References:

1) https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H87&t=KJV



God Calls You By Name Part 1- Names Are Important

Genesis 17:1 NLT

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai-

‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life.

Today we begin our new series, ‘God Calls You By Name’. Our text is Genesis 17 where two ‘first mention’ principles are introduced. First mention means that this is the first time a particular concept is seen in the Bible and therefore it is the clearest representation of that concept. 

The two first mention principles are:

1. God is called El Shaddai, the LORD God Almighty

2. The covenant of circumcision is established

Abram’s age is recorded for a reason
For today’s blog, we will focus on verse one. Our verse begins by noting Abram’s age which is very important. Abram, which means ‘exalted father’ is ninety nine years old (1).  Numbers in Hebrew all contain symbolism. The number 90 is Tzaddi and defined as the righteousness of God, a devout man (2). The number 9 is Tet and is defined as fullness of blessings (2). By understanding the meaning of names and numbers, we are told that Abram is the exalted father of his family who is in right standing with God and is devout in his faith.

The Lord appeared!

‘The Lord appeared’ is a phrase that is recorded 35 times in the King James version of the Bible. It precedes an action of God such as speaking to someone in a dream or vision, or pronouncing a warning or a judgement. When there is an acceleration of divine activity, ‘the Lord appears’ and something big is about to happen.

El Shaddai

Genesis 17 is the first mention in the Bible of El Shaddai. This title is found 48 times in the King James. God reveals Himself to Abram as God Almighty or more accurately ‘the One Who is limitless in power’. He is preparing Abram for the impossible to happen.

What does blameless mean?
And here is the key that allows God to intervene as El Shaddai; serve me faithfully and live blamelessly. The actual Hebrew says ‘walk before Me and be blameless.’  The phrase ‘walk before me’ is defined as living a lifestyle that is wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, and integrous (3). How do you walk blamelessly? By removing anything in your heart and life that takes the place of God.

1 John 5:21 Amplified,

Little children, guard yourselves from idols-- [false teachings, moral compromises, and anything that would take the place of God in your hearts.]

Abram has purged idols from his heart before
This is not the first time Abram had to check his heart for idols. In the past, he was forced to ask Lot to leave his household. Lot was the closest thing to a son he ever had up to that point. Abram was tossed out of  Egypt because he treasured his own life over Sarai’s. Realizing his weakness of greed, he tithed to Melchizedek to cleanse himself of materialism and covetousness. As needs change in the seasons of our lives, opportunities for compromise reveal the condition of our hearts. God is making sure that He is first place in Abram’s life.

Time for an idol check
Before a major move of God, it is necessary for an idol check. What pleasure consumes our day and what are the motivations behind it? Our days are usually filled with food, entertainment, family, career, social media, shopping, etc…  We must ask ourselves, does God really take first place in our hearts or is He an afterthought? 

How to walk blamelessly
When we read and study God’s word, meditate on it, and apply it to our everyday lives, then God is absolutely first!  Then we can walk blameless before Him because there is no desire for compromise. Our inclinations will be wholesome, unimpaired, innocent and integrous. As we purge the idols, God moves on our lives and displays His limitless power on our behalf. 

Let’s Pray:

Father, You know me better than I know myself. Bring to my awareness anything that has taken first place in my heart. I am sorry and repent of wrong priorities. Give me the grace to make You my priority and everything else will fall into its proper place. I thank You for moving on my behalf as El Shaddai, the LORD God Almighty. I love You. In Jesus name, Amen.

© 2019 foundedonthebible.com

References:

1. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H87&t=KJV

2. Barbie Breathitt, Breath of the Spirit Ministries, Inc. P.O. Box 820653, North Richland HIlls, TX 76182-0653, www.BreathoftheSpiritMinistriess.com, www.BarbieBreathitt.com 

3. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H8549&t=KJV