God appeared before Abraham to confirm His covenant

Summary of Genesis 17:1-8

At the end of Genesis 16, after Ishmael was born, Abram was 86 years old. In Genesis 17, Abram is now 99 years old; 13 years have passed; God appeared to Abram with “I am God Almighty”. God’s instructed Abram to walk faithfully and be blameless. Abram responded and fell facedown in humility. God repeats His promises to confirm Abram’s faith. God gave him a new name, from Abram, “father of many,” became Abraham, “father of many nations.

Questions

What do the details of the Lord’s appearance to Abraham and Abraham’s response tell about their relationship? Abraham can hear and recognize God’s voice; he does not doubt that the voice is God’s speaking to him. He fell facedown, this reflects his position before God Almighty; he is humble before God.

What does it mean to “be blameless” (17:1)? To obey God’s commands and please God in our actions, thoughts, and words.

How could anyone accomplish God’s command to be blameless? With our own strength, we cannot. We need to ask God for faith and trust God to make the impossible possible.

In verses 4-8, what does God promise to do that confirms His power to carry out His will? God will provide descendants through Abraham, descendants that form nations. God will be with them and establish a covenant with them, to be their God. They will possess the land of Canaan.

What promises in the Bible apply to you, and do you trust God to keep them? Why or why not? In Matthew 6. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.. There is only so much I can do; there is only this much I can plan. I will try my best, and God will take care of the rest.