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Genesis 17
1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless.
2I will make my between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”
3Abram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying,
4“As for me, behold, my is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations.
5Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
6I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. will come out of you.
7I will establish my between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring after you.
8I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an possession. I will be their God.”
9God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my , you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.
10This is my , which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised.
11You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a token of the between me and you.
12He who is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring.
13He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
14The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my .”
15God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah.
16I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. of peoples will come from her.”
17Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?”
18Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!”
19God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my with him for an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.
20As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
21But I will establish my with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”
22When he finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.
23Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money: every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the same day, as God had said to him.
24Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
25Ishmael, his son, was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
26In the same day both Abraham and Ishmael, his son, were circumcised.
27All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
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Questions this passage answers
What is sin?
Scripture defines sin as lawlessness, as falling short of God's glory, and as failing to do the good we know we should do. It is not only a list of bad actions but a condition of the heart that produces them, and it is first against God rather than only against people. Scripture also says all have sinned, that its wage is death, and that God is faithful to forgive those who confess.
What does the Bible say about work?
Scripture presents work as something given before sin entered the world, made harder by the curse, and redeemed in Christ so that ordinary labour is done for the Lord rather than for people. It commands diligence, honest dealing, rest, and provision for one's household, and it refuses to make a person's worth depend on their job.
How do I forgive someone who hurt me?
Biblical forgiveness is the decision to release a debt you have every right to collect, made because God released yours. It is not pretending the wrong was small, and it does not always mean reconciliation or renewed trust. It usually begins as an act of obedience and becomes a feeling later, often much later.
How do I trust God when life is difficult?
Biblical trust is not a feeling you generate. It is leaning your weight on what God has revealed about himself, especially when your circumstances suggest otherwise. Scripture builds trust the same way every time: by remembering what God has already done, telling him the truth about what you feel now, and obeying the next small thing while the outcome is still hidden.