Gen 17:6-8 | KingComments | STEP | The LORD appears for the second time to Abram. He presents himself as El Shaddai , that is “God Almighty”. Here it is not “LORD God”, because this time it is not about Who He is for Abram, but about Who He is in Himself. This is an enormous encouragement for the believing Abram to live in the land where he has nothing yet, but what his descendants will inherit. To know God in this way is also a great encouragement for us, who equally live by faith. It is a great privilege to walk before God, the Almighty, and to be always aware that He is with you. At the same time, God can only expect this walk to be blameless, impeccable. That’s why He adds this. We can’t fill in that walk as we like. We know that Abram is not perfect and that we are not. But God can never adjust His measure to who man is (cf. ). In the relationship just established, God makes His covenant with Abram. He will explain in more detail what He said in Genesis 15 ( ). In this covenant He unfolds His counsel regarding Abram, whom He also gives another name: Abraham. “Abram” means “exalted father”; “Abraham” means “father of a crowd”. In the sense of the name “Abraham” the content of God’s covenant is reflected. It is a covenant with Abraham and his descendants . His offspring shall be so great that he shall become the father of a multitude of nations. This is his physical offspring, as it becomes clear in the following verses through circumcision, which is carried out only on all from Israelite. The other nations will also be blessed on the basis of this covenant, for through Israel the blessing will go everywhere. Furthermore he is the father of a crowd in a spiritual sense because he is also the father of all who walk in the footsteps of his faith: “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised” ( ).

‏ Genesis 17:6-8

God’s Covenant with Abraham

The LORD appears for the second time to Abram. He presents himself as El Shaddai, that is “God Almighty”. Here it is not “LORD God”, because this time it is not about Who He is for Abram, but about Who He is in Himself. This is an enormous encouragement for the believing Abram to live in the land where he has nothing yet, but what his descendants will inherit. To know God in this way is also a great encouragement for us, who equally live by faith. It is a great privilege to walk before God, the Almighty, and to be always aware that He is with you.

At the same time, God can only expect this walk to be blameless, impeccable. That’s why He adds this. We can’t fill in that walk as we like. We know that Abram is not perfect and that we are not. But God can never adjust His measure to who man is (cf. Mt 5:48).

In the relationship just established, God makes His covenant with Abram. He will explain in more detail what He said in Genesis 15 (Gen 15:18). In this covenant He unfolds His counsel regarding Abram, whom He also gives another name: Abraham. “Abram” means “exalted father”; “Abraham” means “father of a crowd”. In the sense of the name “Abraham” the content of God’s covenant is reflected. It is a covenant with Abraham and his descendants. His offspring shall be so great that he shall become the father of a multitude of nations.

This is his physical offspring, as it becomes clear in the following verses through circumcision, which is carried out only on all from Israelite. The other nations will also be blessed on the basis of this covenant, for through Israel the blessing will go everywhere. Furthermore he is the father of a crowd in a spiritual sense because he is also the father of all who walk in the footsteps of his faith: “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised” (Rom 4:11-12).