Beginning in Genesis 11:26-32, God introduces to us the man Abram. Then in Genesis 12 (see Acts 7:1-8) begins God’s Revelation that He is Sovereign in the selection of Abram to be the first of God’s Chosen People, wherein He would separate Abram and his descendants, through Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph and Judah to be:

1. God’s Chosen People; He called Israel (the Twelve Tribes).
2. The nation He made His Covenant with.
3. The nation where He placed His Name. He gave them Worship; and He made them His Dwelling Place on earth. He gave them the Ten Commandments, the Priesthood, a way to approach the Almighty God based on the sacrifice of animals, pointing to Christ (John 14:6; Hebrews 9 and 10), the only way to God. (See Romans 3:24-25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; etc.)
4. A type of the Church, “the Israel of God” (Galatians 3:25-29; 6:16). Also see Romans 9:6 – 10 – 11; especially 9:23-24; included Jew and Gentile, the Elect of God.

In our study of Genesis 11:26, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and now chapter 17, Abraham is a very special man to God. It was to Abraham that God first revealed the contents of His Everlasting Covenant. It was with Abraham that God first established His Covenant; then with Isaac (not Ishmael); then with Jacob (not Esau). (Read Romans 9:6-24.) For the Promise was to Abraham’s Seed (not seeds). (See Galatians 3:16, where Paul identifies the “Seed” as Christ Jesus.)

As we study chapter by chapter the Book of Genesis, God uses Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph to reveal Himself and His Plan of Redemption in the Seed, based upon God’s Sovereign Purpose, and not on man’s merits or work.

In Chapter 17, God reveals very plainly the contents (or specifics) of His Everlasting Covenant to Abraham, even to Jesus Christ; who confirmed, or ratified, the Covenant in His Blood (or Blood Atonement) on the Cross as the Sin Offering, our Substitute (Romans 3:24-25; Isaiah 53:1-12; 2 Corinthians 5:21). However, in the Old Testament, the Atonement in Christ is all in type and shadow. God progressively reveals this truth throughout the Old Testament; but especially in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy through the Altar and the Tabernacle, and later through the Temple (in the days of David, Solomon, and forward).

The Covenant is God’s Declaration of His Eternal Purpose in Christ to reveal Himself to His People. It begins with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-21) and forward. It is a bloody trail throughout the Old Testament of the sacrifice (the innocent dying for the guilty). Of course, the New Testament reveals the Sacrifice to be Christ Jesus, God in the Flesh, our Sacrifice, Substitute, and Savior.

In Genesis 17:1, God appears to Abram. God had spoken to Abram several times prior to this event (Genesis 12:1, 7; 13:14; 15:1). Each time it was in reference to God’s Covenant Blessing coming through Abram.

The Bible does not give Abram’s age when God first appeared to Abram in the Ur of the Chaldees (Acts 7:2). But the Bible does say that Abram was 75 years old when he finally got to the Land of Canaan. (See Genesis 12:4; 16:3.) Now, in Genesis 17:1, Abram is 99 years old. So, it has been 24-plus years that God has been talking to Abram.

But here in Genesis 17:1, it was God’s time to fully establish His Everlasting Covenant to Abram. He revealed Himself to Abram as “Almighty God,” the All-Powerful God; Abram’s Lord (Master, Authority); the Only God; the Strong One; Abram’s Creator and Commander.

Therefore, God, “Almighty God,” the only One who is able, commands Abram – you are Mine, Abraham.

In the next few posts, we will look at:

The Five Aspects of the Everlasting Covenant

The First Aspect: Perception
The Second Aspect: Prophecy
The Third Aspect: Personal
The Fourth Aspect: Possession
The Fifth Aspect: The Picture