MPV Commentary

Renewal of the Covenant.

Abram was ninety years old and nine—thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael [Ge 16:16]. During that interval he had enjoyed communion with God but had been favored with no special revelation as formerly, probably due to his hasty and blameable marriage with Hagar.

The Lord appeared in a visible manifestation of divine presence, likely the Shekinah or radiant glory of overpowering effulgence. He introduced Himself as the Almighty God, the name by which He made Himself known to the patriarchs (Ex 6:3), conveying the sense of "all-sufficient" (Ps 16:5, 6; 73:25).

Abram was called to walk and be perfect—upright in heart, speech, and behavior.

Abram fell on his face, assuming the attitude of profound reverence characteristic of Eastern people. This posture expressed conscious humility and deep reverence.

The Lord renewed His covenant with Abram, referencing it as the foundation for the communication that follows. This covenant is the promise of salvation made to all who believe in the Savior.

However, Abram's name was changed to Abraham, which means "father of a multitude of nations" (see Re 2:17). In Eastern cultures, a change of name signifies a new circumstance or status in life. God adapted His procedure to fit the customs and ideas of the time and place.

The Lord promised to give Abraham the land as an everlasting possession [Ge 15:18], which was a type of heaven, "the better country" (Heb 11:16).

Every male child among Abraham's descendants would be circumcised, serving as the sign of the covenant in the Old Testament Church, just as baptism is in the New. The terms of the covenant were clear: on one hand, Abraham and his seed would observe the right of circumcision; on the other, God promised to give them Canaan for a perpetual possession, be their God, and bless all nations through him.

As for Sarai, God's purposes were gradually revealed. A son had been long ago promised to Abraham, but now it was made clear that this child would come from her.

Abraham fell on his face and laughed at the improbability of the event [Ro 4:20]. He expressed natural solicitude as a parent for Ishmael's well-being, but God's thoughts are not like those of humans [Isa 55:8].

The blessings of the covenant were reserved for Isaac, but common blessings were abundantly promised to Ishmael. Although the visible Church did not descend from his family, personally he might have and it is hoped did enjoy its benefits.