Repeated phrases:
(1) "Just as he had said," v.1a, "what he had promised" v.1b, "at the appointed time" v.2.
Sarah gave birth to Isaac according to the promise of God.
(2) "So Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old age" v.2, "Now Abraham was a hundred years old" v.5, "Yet I have given birth to a son for him in his old age!" v.7.
Isaac's birth was impossible humanly speaking. Abraham's and Sarah's body were as good as dead.
Romans 4:19 Without being weak in faith, he considered his own body as dead (because he was about one hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 4:20 He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. 4:21 He was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do. 4:22 So indeed it was credited to Abraham as righteousness.
Therefore, Abraham circumcised him just as God had commanded him to do v.4b.
(NET) Just as God had commanded him to do. With the birth of the promised child, Abraham obeyed the LORD by both naming (Gen 17:19) and circumcising Isaac (17:12).
Reflection: God delivered His promise and made the impossible happened to Abraham and Sarah. What was the response of Abraham? He followed what God had commanded to him to do-circumcised Isaac. I think that is the right attitude: Isaac did not belong to Abraham or Sarah. He belonged to God. Therefore, they raised Him as what God commanded to do. Other than your children what else did you know that they do not belong to you, but belong to God? Your health? Your remaining years on earth? How shall we use them according to God's commands?
Audrey
Comments