Genesis 17:26-27: “Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that very day. And every male in Abraham’s household, including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him.”
It was Abram’s ninety-ninth birthday when the Lord appeared to him and said [Genesis 17:10]:
“This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.”
In the ancient world, circumcision was not very popular. It was considered a strange custom at best and a mutilation of the human body at its worst.
The following day Abram called together all the males of his tribe. At his motion everybody sat down while he himself remained standing. Abram surmised a crowd of approximately 500 boys and men. They all gazed at him with expectant eyes. It was an honor to spend time with the exalted leader of the tribe. A war hero after their successful rescue mission of his nephew Lot, Abram was widely respected.
“I have called you together today to talk about a new vision the Lord has given to me.” As Abram began his speech everybody became real quiet. One could have heard a pin drop. “God has been gracious to us”, Abram continued, “He has protected us from danger and blessed us beyond compare. Now He invites all of us to enter into a holy covenant with Him.” He paused and looked into the faces of the boys and men intently listening to his words. They came from the nations Abram had passed through on his long journey. Some of his men were purchased, some were gifted to him in Egypt, and some were born into his household.
“As a sign that we accept His invitation He asks each of us men to be circumcised.” Abram went on to describe the procedure of circumcision and added: “God’s covenant in our flesh will be an everlasting covenant. My son Ishmael and I will be the first to accept this honor. Each one of you is welcome to enter into the Lord’s covenant. However, anybody who refuses to be circumcised won’t be part of this tribe anymore. They will be released from their service and are free to go wherever they please.”
Abram, his teenage son Ishmael along with everybody else who had accepted the call were the first to be circumcised on that special day. In conjunction with the covenant came a name change for Abram and Sarai. The name “Abram”, meaning “Exalted Father”, became “Abraham”, “The Father of Nations”. And as the future Mother of Nations, Sarai’s name changed from “My Princess” to “The Princess” – which is “Sarah” in Hebrew. And God confirmed [Genesis 17:5+15-16]:
“No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. (…) As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”
Hearing about Sarah’s unexpected joys of motherhood in days to come, Abraham fell to the ground laughing and prayed: “Oh if you could just bless Ishmael, I’d be satisfied.” The Lord replied: “I will do that – Ishmael will have twelve sons who will each rule over a tribe. I will make him into a great nation – but I was serious about your wife having a son. His name will be Isaac and I will establish My covenant with him.”
This was a lot to digest for Abraham. A man almost a hundred years of age would have a son? His 90-year-old wife would become a mother? This was humanly impossible. Abraham and Sarah had prayed for a son so long that they had stopped waiting for an answer. Isaac would be an exceptional miracle, born not by the will of man but by the will of the Lord – an unexpected gift from heaven.