In Genesis 16 we find the story of Ishmael’s conception and birth. Abram and Sarai’s attempt to “hurry” God along in his promise keeping. Ishmael was neither the son of promise nor the son to receive Abram’s inheritance. There was one more test that God needed to set before Abram before the son could be born; the sign of the covenant. Thirteen years after Ishmael was born God spoke to Abram again. Things were going to change. But the change would only be noticeable to those who were intimately involved with each other. Circumcision became a sign of partnership with God. It was after God revealed his purpose in circumcision that the son of promise, by Sarah, was mentioned again. With the sign came a change of names. Once Abram became Abraham, after he obeyed God’s command regarding his flesh, following his command for his household to follow suite, then God began the next act of his promise keeping. I wonder how much time expired between Genesis 17:27 and 18:1? I think it was just long enough to heal.
Stuart
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