Abram – The Exalted Father

Genesis 17

Abram vs. the Buddha on Father’s Day

• Siddhartha (Buddha) abandoned his wife and son at age 29 to seek Nirvana (blow out – suffering).

• Buddhism is ascetic and isolated from the need of family.

• One doesn’t need God to be a Buddhist.

• Abram left his homeland and would not find peace until he had son.

• Abram means exalted Father

• Abraham means father of a multitude of Nations.

• Abram’s legacy for his Children was his trust in God.

Which is a better model for Fatherhood?

Genesis 17:1-27 (NET)1 When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him

and said, “I am the sovereign God. Walk before me and be blameless. 2 Then I will confirm my covenant between me and you, and I will give you a multitude of descendants.” 3 Abram bowed down with his face to the ground, and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer will your name be Abram. Instead, your name will be Abraham because I will make you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you extremely fruitful. I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you.

7 I will confirm my covenant as a perpetual covenant between me and you. It will extend to your descendants after you throughout their generations. I will be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 I will give the whole land of Canaan – the land where you are now residing – to you and your descendants after you as a permanent possession. I will be their God.” 9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep the covenantal requirement I am imposing on you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my requirement that you and your descendants after you must keep: Every male among you must be circumcised.

11 You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskins. This will be a reminder of the covenant between me and you. 12 Throughout your generations every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, whether born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not one of your descendants. 13 They must indeed be circumcised, whether born in your house or bought with money. The sign of my covenant will be visible in your flesh as a permanent reminder. 14 Any uncircumcised male who has not been circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin will be cut off from his people – he has failed to carry out my requirement.”

15 Then God said to Abraham, “As for your wife, you must no longer call her Sarai; Sarah will be her name. 16 I will bless her and will give you a son through her. I will bless her and she will become a mother of nations. Kings of countries will come from her!” 17 Then Abraham bowed down with his face to the ground and laughed as he said to himself, “Can a son be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”

18 Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, Sarah your wife is going to bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm my covenant with him as a perpetual covenant for his descendants after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will indeed bless him, make him fruitful, and give him a multitude of descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes; I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”

22 When he finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him. 23 Abraham took his son Ishmael and every male in his household (whether born in his house or bought with money) and circumcised them on that very same day, just as God had told him to do. 24 Now Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised; 25 his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised. 26 Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised on the very same day. 27 All the men of his household, whether born in his household or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

Even as an Old Man He Wants Children.

1 When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the sovereign God. Walk before me and be blameless. 2 Then I will confirm my covenant between me and you, and I will give you a multitude of descendants.”

• 13 years had past since God’s last visit. God had confirmed the land promise.

• Abram thought Ishmael was the promised son.

• El Shaddai – used first here but was the name known by the patriarchs. Exodus 6:3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as

God Almighty, but by my name ‘the LORD’ I was not known to them.

•He is willing to Wait For God.•He is willing to walk a blameless life for God.•Why? To be blessed and have children that are blessed.

God confirms His Promise of Fatherhood

3 Abram bowed down with his face to the ground, and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer will your name be Abram. Instead, your name will be Abraham because I will make you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you extremely fruitful. I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you.

• Abram Worshiped God. • As for me (God’s part in the

Covenant)• God’s promise:

– He will make Abram the Father of a multitude of nations.

– He will make Abram exceedingly fruitful.

– Abram will have Kings for descendents.

• God changes his name:– Abram – Exalted father– Abraham – “father of a multitude

of nations”. Looks ahead.

The Promise to Abraham is a Promise to His Children’s Children.

7 I will confirm my covenant as a perpetual covenant between me and you. It will extend to your descendants after you throughout their generations. I will be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 I will give the whole land of Canaan – the land where you are now residing – to you and your descendants after you as a permanent possession. I will be their God.”

• The Covenant is perpetual – eternal.

• The Covenant extends beyond the Father to his Children and their children.

• The Covenant promises that God will be Abram’s children’s God

• The Covenant promises the land of Canaan to be in Abram’s children’s possession – Permanently.

Abraham is willing to suffer pain to be a Father

9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep the covenantal requirement I am imposing on you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my requirement that you and your descendants after you must keep: Every male among you must be circumcised. 11 You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskins. This will be a reminder of the covenant between me and you.

• As for You (Abraham’s part):

• Circumcise the males:– It is a reminder

of the covenant between them.

Having Children requires a sign of commitment

12 Throughout your generations every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, whether born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not one of your descendants. 13 They must indeed be circumcised, whether born in your house or bought with money. The sign of my covenant will be visible in your flesh as a permanent reminder.

• As for You (Abraham’s part in the Covenant):

• Circumcise the males:– It is a reminder of the

covenant between them.– At eight days of age– Whether born in Abram

House– Or, a servant bought into

his house.• It is a “sign” – a visible and

permanent reminder.

We have been marked by a seal.Ephesians 1:13–14 (NET) 13 And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) – when you believed in Christ – you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.

Abram is Committed to God and Fatherhood

14 Any uncircumcised male who has not been circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin will be cut off from his people – he has failed to carry out my requirement.”

• He who refuses to be cut will be cut off.

The Exalted Father’s wife is exalted.

15 Then God said to Abraham, “As for your wife, you must no longer call her Sarai; Sarah will be her name. 16 I will bless her and will give you a son through her. I will bless her and she will become a mother of nations. Kings of countries will come from her!”

• Sarai – princes renamed Sarah – princes.

• New to the promise: Sarah will have the son of promise.

Honor God with FaithfulnessBe committed to a legacy for your children.Your wife will be exalted.

Fatherhood includes reverence with laughter.

17 Then Abraham bowed down with his face to the ground and laughed as he said to himself, “Can a son be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” 18 Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live before you!”

• Second time he bowed.

• He laughs because:– I’m 100– Sarah is 90

• Abraham wants Ishmael to receive the blessing.

God’s Plans are Bigger than Abraham’s Dreams

19 God said, “No, Sarah your wife is going to bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm my covenant with him as a perpetual covenant for his descendants after him.

• Abram’s dreams over the past 14 years have been for Ishmael.– It’s hard to let go of little

dreams to embrace the miraculous.

– Abraham’s contentment would not rob God’s plan for Sarah.

• Isaac – laughter• Isaac will receive Abraham’s

eternal covenant.

Abraham’s Contentment for smaller blessings could have robbed Sarah.

Don’t let your lack of faith and contentment for half a blessing rob others of God’s blessing for them.

A Father Cares for All His Children20 As for Ishmael, I have

heard you. I will indeed bless him, make him fruitful, and give him a multitude of descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes; I will make him into a great nation.

• Ishmael’s name means “hear”

• God hears Abraham’s plead for his other son.– Fruitful– Multitude of

descendants– Father of 12 princes– One great nation

Genesis 25:12–18 (NET) 12 This is the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham. 13 These are the names of Ishmael’s sons, by their names according to their records: Nebaioth (Ishmael’s firstborn), Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names by their settlements and their camps – twelve princes according to their clans. 17 Ishmael lived a total of 137 years. He breathed his last and died; then he joined his ancestors. 18 His descendants settled from Havilah to Shur, which runs next to Egypt all the way to Asshur. They settled away from all their relatives.

God gets specific.21 But I will establish my

covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.” 22 When he finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.

• God gets specific:– The Covenant is with

Isaac, the son of Sarah– Sarah will have the child

next year, at this set time.

Abraham Hurries to Obey23 Abraham took his son

Ishmael and every male in his household (whether born in his house or bought with money) and circumcised them on that very same day, just as God had told him to do.

• Abraham has waited for 25 years for this day, he will not waste time to obey God.

• All the men in his household obey him.

Father Abraham sets the example.24 Now Abraham was 99 years

old when he was circumcised; 25 his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised. 26 Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised on the very same day. 27 All the men of his household, whether born in his household or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

• The Father sets the example.

• His 13 year old son follows and then sets an example.

• All the men follow their example.

Lessons on Fatherhood From Abraham

Desire Fatherhood Put it above the location of your home

Put it above occupationPut their future above your present security

Lessons on Fatherhood from Abraham

Consider Fatherhood a blessing from GodTrust God for children

Trust God for keeping your children

Lessons on Fatherhood From Abraham

Intercede for all your ChildrenAbram prayed for Lot,

Ishmael and Isaac.

Lessons on Fatherhood from Abraham

Don’t force the blessingsTrust God to give the blessing

Trust God to provide the blessing for your ChildrenBe obedient to God and assure the blessing

Lessons on Fatherhood from Abraham

Don’t underestimate the influence of a Father.

Lessons on Fatherhood from Abraham

Let the very mention of your name Exalt Fatherhood.

God is Our FatherAbram is Our Example

Imitate GodImitate Abraham

Come to FaithBe a Father of Faith