The whole of Genesis 17 (twenty-seven verses) is taken up with discussion of names, promises, covenants, and circumcision. You may have noticed that people we’ve studied so far were given particular names “for he will...” do something. For instance, Noah was thus named because “this one does comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands because of the ground which Elohim has cursed” (Genesis 5:29). Things must have been really bad before the flood! We’ve always wondered how someone could know what will happen in the future so as to name their child accordingly—how did Noah’s parents know he would comfort them? (And how did he do that, seeing as how they did not make it onto the ark?) Was it wishful thinking, or did they know something? Did Elohim inspire parents to name their children something, and if so did He do that with everyone or just a select few? Did the name cause something to happen, or was it given because of what He saw someone would do? If Elohim says something will happen, it will—unless specific instructions are followed to change a consequence—because He is always trying to get people to repent and change. So the names we are about to discuss are very important.

Let’s begin with something really interesting. At the beginning of the chapter we are told that Elohim appears to Abram, says He is El Shaddai, and then near the end (verse 22) “Elohim went up from Abraham.” This wording creates a picture of Elohim actually taking a visible vertical trip upwards. Did He also take a vertical trip downwards to appear to Abram—or did He simply pop into view? And what’s up with the introduction of “El Shaddai” at this juncture? Why this name and not one of the many others He has that provide more information about Him? With this name Elohim is saying He is Almighty God, the One who is all sufficient. He is about to ask something huge of Abram so He is hereby stating His ability to bring to pass everything He has promised.

Elohim reiterates the promises He made to Abram in chapter 15 but this time speaks only about people. By the time Abram is 100 years old he will be a father to the promised son who would bring about many nations, so it is fitting that his name should be changed from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of many nations). He already was a father—to Ishmael who would himself bring forth twelve princes and become a great nation (verse 20)—and Abraham would father several more sons later on. But the promise was to Isaac (verse 19) who had not yet been conceived. “I shall establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant and with his seed after him.” It is fitting therefore that the name Sarai (my princess) be changed to Sarah (mother of nations). She would birth only one child (at about 90 years of age), but that one was enough to fulfill Elohim’s promises!

Having reiterated the covenant, Elohim commands Abraham to guard it and make sure his descendants guard it also. There is a special thing Elohim requires all of the males in Abraham’s household to do as a sign of the covenant, and to help them always remember to guard it. Verses 10-14 tell us that Elohim expects every male to be circumcised. Failure to do so will be considered breaking the covenant, and anyone who breaks the covenant will be “cut off from his people.” Not only did the physical descendants of Abraham have to be circumcised but also any purchased servants and any servants born in his house. From now on every male who would be a participant in the covenant must be circumcised as a sign that they accept and intend to keep the covenant, and parents were to make sure their newborn sons were circumcised and trained. So Abraham, Ishmael and all of the men (free or servant) were circumcised that very day, and in the future whenever a male child was born he was circumcised on the eighth day after birth. We are told that Abraham was 99 and Ishmael was 13 when they were circumcised along with the whole household.

The covenant Elohim made with Abraham is everlasting with Elohim promising to always be Elohim to him and all of his descendants. Since everyone dies, this is only possible if people are resurrected. Individuals must qualify for the Resurrection by trusting and obeying Elohim, doing things His way. We must, like Abraham, believe Elohim so it can be reckoned to us as righteousness. If we believe Elohim we will show it by action.