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Sarah
The Mother of Nations
As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations
(Bible Study Online Article Covers : Genesis 17:9-27)
Short Recap
In the last couple of articles, we learned that Abram and Sarai had agreed to a plan designed to allow them to finally have a child that they could call their own. Remember that this plan had come about because Sarai would be found to be barren, and with her heading into the final phase of her life, she begins to panic.
So Sarai concocted this plan, which Abram would eventually decide to follow, in the hopes that she would finally be able to build a family of her own through her Egyptian maidservant Hagar. But as we would later learn, Sarai and Abram's plan would be a huge mistake on both sides. This mistake would be made clear after Hagar was found to be with the child.
Abram and Sarai didn't know that Hagar had her own plans.
The Sacred Record revealed that Hagar began to taunt and tease Sarai after she learned she was pregnant.
Hagar's attitude towards Sarai changed so drastically because she felt like she now held the upper hand over Sarai.
Since she was able to bear Abram a child and Sarai could not, Hagar saw herself as more qualified to be Abram's wife.
However, Sarai wouldn't take this negative treatment from Hagar sitting down.
We would find that Sarai would hit back at Hagar by treating her worse than she had been treated.
Now that the situation has tilted back in Sarai's favor, the Sacred Record would reveal that Hagar would end up leaving Abram's household.
But Hagar would eventually return after she'd received a visit from an angel of the Lord while she rested at a water spring in the wilderness of Shur.
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Did Abram Lose Favor With The Lord?
However that may have been, we would fast-forward a bit from within our journey to about thirteen years. And it's at this point that one could consider the notion that Abram had fallen out of favor with the Lord for the past thirteen years since he hadn't heard from the Almighty during this period.
I know that I couldn't help but wonder if God's silence had anything to do with the part that Abram played in this whole ordeal between Sarai and Hagar. However, after these 13 years, it would seem like Abram had gained favor with the Lord again. For we find that the Lord would give Abram a name change from his current name, which meant: high father to Abraham, which signifies the father of many nations:
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What God Had to Say to Abram?
"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. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.' Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: '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.'" -- Genesis 17:1-5
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The Covenant of Circumcision?
But know that God wasn't finish with Abraham:
"And God said to Abraham: 'As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 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; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
'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. 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. 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.'" -- (Genesis 17:9-14)
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The Covenant of Circumcision
A Closer Look?
Keep in mind that we now find God instituting a covenant with Abraham and his seed, known as the "Covenant of Circumcision." When it comes to this covenant, know that it basically deals with being some type of a sign, seal, or agreement based on the requirements that God wanted Abraham and the future generations that came from him to follow.
Let's take a quick look at what those requirements were:
"Every male, rather child or adult, shall be circumcised." Know that there would be a seal, sign, or condition that God would require Abraham and the generations after him to practice and keep.
Also, know that the flesh of the foreskin would become part of a bloody ordinance that would also serve as some token or offering towards the Covenant of Circumcision.
As for the male babies, God wanted them to be circumcised on the eighth day after they were born and not before. They felt like this would've given the male babies time to gather enough strength in the hopes of being able to help the babies endure the pain that was usually associated with the bloody procedure.
Also, know that God would then issue a strict warning for any male who did not follow the requirements of the "Covenant of Circumcision" now placed before them. For you must know that if the male disobeyed the covenant, God would've cut him off from the fellowship of his people. And if this were to happen, know that they would've also been cut off from the promises and privileges that were part of God's covenant with Abraham.
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Hello Sarah?
Now after God had instituted the "Covenant of Circumcision" with Abraham and his seed, know that He would now turn his attention towards Abraham's wife, Sarai: "As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of people will come from her." -- Genesis 17:15,16
Now, after hearing that his wife Sarai (whose name meant "my lady") would now be called Sarah, whose name means: (princess of a multitude), we find that Abraham had fallen facedown and began to laugh: "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety? If only Ishmael might live under your blessing." Abraham would think to himself.
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God Reassures Abraham?
Although Abraham doubted what the Lord had just said, he kept those thoughts to himself. But despite this, God would still hear Abraham's thoughts, so He reassured him of something as He departed from him:
"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. 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. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.'" -- Genesis 17:19-21
And after hearing the message God had told him, Abraham took his son Ishmael, and every male born in his household. He also took every male that he had purchased, and he had them all circumcised just like the Lord had instructed him to do. Now, keep in mind that Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised, and his son Ishmael was 13 years of age when he was circumcised. Also, Abraham and Ishmael would be circumcised on the same day.
In the next Bible Study Online Article:
Now that God has given Sarai a new name, in which He changed it to Sarah, just like He'd did for her husband Abram -- for his name, is now Abraham. We begin to move forward. And it's at this time, that we learn, that God wasn't finished when it came to the God-fearing couple? For we find God speaking, what would seem, like an unbelievable blessing -- so much so, Sarah herself, didn't believe what God had just said.
May God blessings be upon you, and thank you for your support
Related - Bible Study Online Articles - Links
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The Sons of God - The Daughters of Men
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Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty
Continue Reading - The Current Bible Study Online Series:
10) Abraham the Father of a Multitude
Added to page 10) The Abrahamic Covenant and its Modification
11) <-CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE - PAGE->
13) Abraham Bargains for Sodom
14) Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed
15) The Judgment of Lot's Wife
17) Abimelech Angry with Abraham
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