The Life of Abraham

— continued —

Genesis 17:15-27

We have seen that Abraham laughed, but it was not out of unbelief; this is likewise true with the question of Abraham which now follows. Calvin and the margin say his laughing and question were by faith and were a victory over all that resisted God’s promise. The question of Abraham was about Ishmael: “O that Ishmael might live before Thee.” This means, “Watch him by Thy divine eye, so he may be protected and blessed by Thee.” Some explain this question of Abraham to mean he was not completely inclined to accept the word of the Lord and was afraid that his firstborn would be put in the background. Therefore, they say the Lord expressly repeated the promise that Sarah would receive the son of promise, and that the Lord would make His covenant with Isaac.

The Lord’s answer made it clear that Abraham was not to think Ishmael would be the head of the family and receive the promise of the coming Messiah. No, Isaac, the son of Sarah, would be the man with whom the Lord would make His covenant. However, this did not have to hinder Abraham from asking a blessing for Ishmael. He also was his son, and he loved him. And the Lord promised that He would also bless him, although it would be a natural and earthly blessing, “I... will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant will I establish with Isaac” (Genesis 17:20b-21a).

Several times the Lord repeated this promise to Abraham. How necessary it is also for the church that the Lord repeats His word and promise to them, because His people are such a forgetful people. When faith is not in exercise, then we are so inclined to listen to the enemy, and we begin to doubt the words of the Lord. Is it not a blessing that, notwithstanding our unfaithfulness, the Lord never forgets His people? His faithfulness is new every day. Is this not the case, people of God? When the Lord confirms His promise again in our life, then we will be small and humble before Him. So we find it in the life of Abraham.

The question now is: Were the Ishmaelites excluded from all those spiritual blessings which the Lord promised to Isaac? No, they were not completely excluded from all spiritual blessings, because in Psalm 87 the Ethiopians, which form a part of Egypt, are also mentioned. Also, on the day of Pentecost the descendants of Ishmael are mentioned. The elect will come from all nations, from the north, south, east, and west. A remnant also from the descendants of Ishmael would be saved, although this nation was not chosen by the Lord as the one with which He would make His covenant.

After the Lord had confirmed His promise to Abraham, He ascended into heaven. This appearance had ended. Several times we read in this chapter that the Lord spoke again to Abraham. We cannot say how long this sweet communion with the Lord lasted, but it came to an end. For the church it always remains a changing life: “The day is Thine, but Thou hast also formed the night.” In like manner all the sweet visits of the Lord come to an end, and the church has to go forward. In those visits they again receive food upon the way they have to go, for otherwise they would perish. Well known is the example of Simeon, who held the child Jesus in his arms, but had to give Him back to Mary. Of those visits of the Lord, something remains in the heart which they never will forget. When He is gone, then they miss Him. Like the Shulamite they weep, “My beloved is gone.”

Young people, you can understand this feeling, can you not? When one of our dear ones is far away, then we miss him or her. We long that they will come back soon, because it is so empty without them. So it is at times in the life of God’s people. They long for the Lord’s communion more than anything else.

It is a great blessing when such a great God takes notice of us and visits us, but it is a greater benefit when we may be and remain humble after such a blessing. We are so inclined to become something with the benefits which we receive. When David’s soul was lovingly embraced by the Lord, then he exclaimed in Psalm 30:7a, “Lord, by Thy favor Thou hast made my mountain to stand strong.” But soon his experience became so different: “Thou didst hide Thy face, and I was troubled” (Psalm 30:7b). For Abraham it was different. After receiving this great privilege, he fulfilled the Lord’s commandment in humility and self-denial. How did this reveal itself in Abraham?

He did not reason or waver, but he obeyed God’s commandment to circumcise all the males of his house. The fulfillment of God’s commandment was of greater importance for him than the financial loss which would result from circumcision, since his men could not do any work for a few days. It is a privilege if we, in obedience of faith with God’s help, may keep His commandments. It is the desire of God’s children to follow the Lord in self-denial and daily to take up their cross. Then we may go in the footsteps of the Mediator, “Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2a).

The father of the faithful received the commandment of the Lord to circumcise all the males in his house; no one was to be excluded. Sometimes you hear questions about how these strangers might have reacted to this. Did they cooperate willingly, or were they compelled to be circumcised? For the children it was not such a problem. When they were eight days old, the sacrament was administered. But how was it with the adults? In our days, when so much is spoken about human rights and discrimination, it would be a problem. The news media would no doubt cry out very loudly about such matters. We live in a time when people have only rights, but we do not hear very much about their duties. This helps to increase the chaos in our days and causes a departure from God’s Word, which results in more and more confusion. A nation that does not give heed to the Lord’s voice will be disciplined, as we see in the history of Israel.

But we return to this history. How did these men react to this request of Abraham? I have found two different opinions about it. One says that Abraham reasoned with his men and convinced them of the necessity to comply with God’s commandment. As a consequence of his reasoning they subjected themselves willingly to God’s commandment.

Others believe that Abraham used his patriarchal authority, without giving them a choice. Although we know that the Lord has a willing people in the day of His power, we believe that Abraham required all his male servants and their children to be circumcised. Why do we think so?

First of all, we think so, because also the children were circumcised. If it were voluntary, why was it then also administered to the children? Secondly, we read that all were circumcised. Although nothing is too wonderful for the Lord, it would be a miracle if all of Abraham’s servants who were bought with money or born in his house began to fear the Lord and out of love for God were made willing to comply with the commandment given to Abraham. It is very likely that they subjected themselves with their minds, because they feared the curse of the covenant. This kind of willingness is only hypocritical and is not pleasing to the Lord. Thirdly, circumcision was an example and symbol of the circumcision of the heart, as we saw before. When a person is born again, he is not willing, but is unwilling, and he resists the work of the Lord with all his might. Such enemies are reconciled with God only out of free grace. This is still the message that may be laid in the midst of the congregation. Has it ever been a blessing for our soul? By nature we do not ask for God, but He is still calling unto us that we can be restored to Him.

In conclusion, we believe Abraham acted as a patriarch and according to the authority he had over his servants. He would have spoken to them about the wonderful appearance of the Lord to him and about His commandment. These men knew that their master served the Lord, for they could see it and hear it. Although they would not have comprehended everything, they had respect for their master. Out of this reasoning it follows that all who received this sacrament came into an outward relationship with the covenant of grace. We may not suppose that all these men also received the application of it to their hearts and were saved. The apostle Paul has written about this, “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea.... But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness” (1 Corinthians 10:1, 5). Another example is Nicodemus, who was circumcised, as were all the Israelites; however, the Lord told him that this was not enough to stand before the Lord. He had to be born again. This is also applicable to the servants of Abraham and to us.

We no longer administer the sacrament of circumcision in the church, because Christ has come and shed His blood. The bloody sacraments came to an end, and the Lord Jesus instituted Holy Baptism in the place of circumcision. How terrible it will be for us if we miss the application of the benefits symbolized in Holy Baptism and then have to appear before the Lord. May the Lord make us wrestlers at the throne of grace. We have said before, young friends, youth is the best time to seek the Lord. It is true that when we serve the Lord, then we cannot and do not want to do certain things anymore. Did the Lord not promise to give a hundredfold in this time and eternal life after this life? Is there anything you can compare with such a great blessing? No, then all these so-called “attractive things” of the world will testify against us!

In this history we have seen that all the males in the house of Abraham were circumcised. In the New Testament, all who live under the truth must be baptized. The ground of baptism is not election, but it is God’s commandment and God’s promise. Neither the grace of the parents nor the grace of the child is the reason to baptize, but they are to be baptized because they are included in the covenant of God and in His church, even though it is in an outward relationship to the covenant.

Election is hidden for us. We do not know whom the Lord has chosen, but all who are born in the church should receive the sign of the covenant. What they have objectively in Christ must be subjectively applied by the Holy Spirit in their hearts. His house must become full. All whose names are written in the Book of Life will be called by Word and Spirit, as the poet of Psalter 425 verse 5 says:

Jehovah’s truth will stand forever,
His covenant bonds He will not sever;
The word of grace which He commands,
To thousand generations stands;
The covenant made in days of old
With Abraham He doth uphold.

Questions:

1. Was Abraham right to circumcise all his male servants, or should he have left it up to them as to whether they were willing to undergo it or not?

2. Make a list of all the covenants which are mentioned in the Bible and give a short explanation of each of them.

3. Why do we no longer have the sacrament of circumcision but instead have Holy Baptism? What is the difference between these two sacraments, and in what way are they similar?

4. What does Holy Baptism mean for you personally?

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