Free Bible Commentary
“Genesis 17:23-27”
Categories: Genesis“Then Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all the servants who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the very same day, as God had said to him. Now Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. In the very same day Abraham was circumcised, and Ishmael his son. All the men of his household, who were born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.”
---End of Scripture verses---
“In the very same day, as God had said to him…” (verse 23) If you could distill the essence of Abraham’s faith down to just a few, simple words, this snippet would define it perfectly. He did just exactly what God told him to do, and he obeyed the Lord with promptness—“in the very same day.” You see this throughout the Bible as the distinguishing characteristic of good-hearted people who desire first foremost to please the Lord and serve Him in loving, trusting faith. They obey the Lord willingly, completely and swiftly.
The jailor in Philippi is a prime example of the good heart that can be touched deeply and meaningfully by God’s word, grace and mercy. “They said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.” (Acts 17:31-33) He didn’t need time to think it over and he didn’t wait for a more convenient time and place. He listened. He learned. He believed. He obeyed.
The Ethiopian eunuch is another case in point. “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?’ And Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:35-38) The eunuch willing, eagerly, immediately and joyfully obeyed (verse 39)!
People of faith do reason away God’s commandments and justify motives to not comply with the Lord’s will. They do not argue that there is no magical power in the water, or insist that baptism is a “work” and therefore cannot save them. They just obey God at His word. If anyone could have justified balking at God’s word it would have been Abraham. Can you imagine how painful it must have been to be circumcised, at the age of 99, likely with a piece of flint, and with no pharmaceuticals available to deaden the pain?! But he and all the males in his household immediately complied to this command, willingly enduring the pain, because they loved the Lord and wanted to please Him. More importantly, they wanted their lives to be right with Him.
“Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised…” (verse 25) “This is an important detail, because it provides unexpected confirmation of the historicity of this whole chapter. The Arabs to this day claim descent from Abraham through Hagar. And they also observe the rite of circumcision, but not on the eighth day of life (as among the Jews), but when the males are ‘thirteen years old’ as Ishmael was here!” (James Burton Coffman)
Please read Genesis 18:1-8 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
- Louie Taylor
