David Bahn – Reflections

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When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.

²³ On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him. ²⁴ Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised,²⁵ and his son Ishmael was thirteen;²⁶ Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that very day.²⁷ And every male in Abraham’s household, including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him. – Genesis 17:22-27

The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching. – John Wooden
Commitment is doing what you said you would, long after the mood you said it in has left. – Various Sources

These two quotes are exemplified by Abraham’s actions once he and God had finished their conversation – or better yet, once God had finished his conversation with Abraham and left.

Abraham was alone. All he had was the word of God. And all he had of that was a repeated promise that he was yet to realize. God had spoken to him. God had made a promise of a son. God had even corrected him in regard to how that promise was to be fulfilled. Well and good. But God had also given him a command. Circumcise all the males in your household. This was to be the sign of the covenant. Personal. Private. Painful. 

And God is gone. We don’t have a clear expression of God’s omniscience at this point in the biblical narrative. God has not revealed himself as redeemer. God has not necessarily even revealed his name. There is no threat either. No, “or else.” No, “if you don’t…” Just a promise and a command. You will have a son. Circumcise all the males of your family. Perhaps here we need to read “family” as “household,” a very extended grouping of people related to Abraham in any manner whatsoever. 

What would move Abraham to do this? What kind of push-back might he receive? How would even the women in his extended family like this idea? Abraham had every reason to ignore God’s command. But he apparently also had a reason to obey it. 

It wasn’t the threat. It wasn’t the fear. It wasn’t a sense of self-punishment. It. Was. Faith. 

All Abraham had was the word of God. And faith. He believed God. He trusted God. It’s not clear that he feared God Though likely he did fear God, there is no obvious evidence that he did. He had the word of God. He had the promise of God. He had the covenant of God. 

God has visited us when Jesus came to earth and dwelt among us. But Jesus has gone. He has given us two greats: The Great Commandment; Love God and love neighbor. The Great Commission: Make disciples of all nations. The only means by which we would do this is by faith. Believing God’s promises. Obeying his commands. Even when no one is watching. 

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And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. ¹⁶ I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” ¹⁷ Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” ¹⁸ And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” ¹⁹ God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. ²⁰ As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. ²¹ But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.” – Genesis 17:15-21

“Adams?” “Here.” “Bahn?” “Here.” Blankenship?” “Here!” “Carter” “She’s not here,” someone offers. So was the roll call in junior high home room. We all had a name and knew to let the teacher know we were present when he called our names for attendance. But there’s far more to a name than a means by which someone can be counted “here” or “absent.”

When someone calls you by name, they are expressing a knowledge of you. They are claiming a place in your life. Demanding your attention. Some names are famous: Luther, Paul, Isaiah, Isaac, Abraham. And now God will name some more who should be famous to us. These instruct us as to the reach of God, and his claim on our attention and lives. And our place in his mind and heart – anthropomorphically-speaking.

In the case of these few verses God names three people beyond Abraham who are written into the story of redemption and who do not escape his gracious and merciful attention. 

First is Sarai, who will now be named, “Sarah.” Both Sarai and Sarah mean princess. Sarah is called by God to give him place in her heart. He is requiring her attendance to the matters at hand. He is also opening himself to her. He has her name on his lips and in his heart and mind – again, – anthropomorphically-speaking. 

Furthermore, God tells Abraham that no one will supplant her in the story of blessing that God is writing in their lives. She, herself, will be the mother of the child of promise. She and Abraham will be parents. They will conceive a child. God will bless her. She will become nations. 

Then Abraham has what he thinks is a better idea. Ishmael could the the promised son! It would be so much easier. No trouble trying to figure out how to conceive at this age. No difficult morning sickness to endure with Sarah at his side. No “new boss” in the home. Ishmael! Let’s go with Ishmael, Abraham says. 

Not to be. But God does not dismiss Ishmael. He dismisses merely Abraham’s plan not Ishmael himself. God has a place for Ishmael in his heart, and in the story of grace, mercy, and blessing that he is writing. God will bless him, and make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and he will become a great nation. 

Then there is laughing boy. Isaac is the child of promise. He will be born. It will be yet another year. But he will be born. God will establish his covenant with Isaac. 

Perhaps you are an Isaac: a child of God with whom God has established his covenant. Maybe you are a Sarah, one who will yet deliver a gift to the world. Are you a laughing boy, the child of promise, the fruition of your parents’ hopes and dreams? If so, fulfill your destiny and become all God intends for you to become – under his gracious favor – no matter what your name may be. You might be an Ishmael, one who is not part of the covenant, but whom God will bless. Will you receive the invitation to join the covenant of the redeemed? Will you let God put his name on you and make you part of his family? 

Those who are of faith are the children of Abraham, and as such we are eternally blessed. God knows us by name. We are his redeemed and blessed sons and daughters.

You must understand that people who have faith are Abraham’s descendants. ⁸ Scripture saw ahead of time that God would give his approval to non-Jewish people who have faith. So Scripture announced the Good News to Abraham ahead of time when it said, “Through you all the people of the world will be blessed.” ⁹ So people who believe are blessed together with Abraham, the man of faith. – Galatians 3:7-9

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And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. ¹⁶ I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” ¹⁷ Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” ¹⁸ And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” ¹⁹ God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. ²⁰ As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. ²¹ But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.” – Genesis 17:15-21

Whenever I play golf, I quote Psalm 2:4, “He who sits in the heavens laughs.” I say that because I’m not really a good golfer. In fact, I’m a pretty crummy golfer. One year I was committed to improving my game. But it was a lost cause. I even took lessons. Didn’t help very much. So my golf Bible verse is, He who sits in the heavens laughs. He laughs when he sees me playing golf!

Maybe you’ve thought as I did that it was Sarah who first laughed and who therefore triggered the naming of Isaac (his name means, he laughs). Funny thing (pun intended!). I had it wrong. Abraham laughs first. So did Abraham. Sarah will have her time later, and will be called on it. God’s word will be accomplished. What he says happens. From, “Let there be light,” to “You will have a son,” when God speaks, things happen. 

That brings me full circle to the laughter of God as spoken of in Psalm 2. 

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And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. ¹⁶ I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” ¹⁷ Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” ¹⁸ And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” ¹⁹ God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. ²⁰ As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. ²¹ But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.” – Genesis 17:15-21

He laughed out loud. Right in the middle of the sermon. When I told the people that they needed to “repent and believe.” It was quite a moment. Have you ever laughed…at an inappropriate moment? Have you ever laughed because the promise is so remarkable? Have you ever laughed because you didn’t know what else to do? 

Abraham laughs at God’s promise! It’s not clear whether this is public, out loud laughter, or just laughing in his soul, he laughs. I suppose one reason is because he’s heard the promise several times before. When God called him (recorded in Genesis 12) God promises that he will become a great nation. He will bless many nations. Time passes, and there is no child. They take matters into their own hands, but Ishmael is not the child of promise. Another promise. Another waiting period. In fact it will be 25 years between the first promise of a son until Isaac’s birth. What are you going to do when you hear a promise repeated and you’ve waited so long and still you wait? You might laugh.

You may also laugh if the promise seems too fantastic. Too fantastic to be true? Abraham was 75 years old when the first promise was given. He will be 100 when Isaac is born. Sarah will be 90 when Isaac was born. This just doesn’t happen. And, you’ve gotta admit it, a child born to a 100 year old man and a 90 year old woman implies activities that might bring a smile to the face of even the most demur. You gotta be kidding me, right? 

Some people laugh as an emotional outlet for great grief and distress. The pressure mounts and grows. Anxiety builds. Tension is at its maximum. The emotional stress meter is at 11. Something busts the dam, and something has to come out. Will it be laughter or tears? In this case it was laughter. 

But the promises of God are no laughing matter. They are not just reliable. They are more than fantastic. They are profound. They reach into the heart. They impact eternity. They change hearts and lives. And this promise of God will come to pass. It will impact eternity. For not only will Abraham believe God, and trust him, and even pass the test that God gives him, he will be the father of faith. And from him will come the Savior of the world. 

Is there a promise of God that would invite your faith? Your tears? Your laughter? Believe this: God’s promises are absolutely reliable, good, profound, and life-saving. That’s no laughing matter.

For your personal meditation and edification on this Lord’s Day

Psalm 8:1-4
O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?

Psalm 38:1-9, 21-22
O LORD, don’t rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your rage!
Your arrows have struck deep,
and your blows are crushing me.
Because of your anger, my whole body is sick;
my health is broken because of my sins.
My guilt overwhelms me—
it is a burden too heavy to bear.
My wounds fester and stink
because of my foolish sins.
I am bent over and racked with pain.
All day long I walk around filled with grief.
A raging fever burns within me,
and my health is broken.
I am exhausted and completely crushed.
My groans come from an anguished heart.
You know what I long for, Lord;
you hear my every sigh.
Do not abandon me, O LORD.
Do not stand at a distance, my God.
Come quickly to help me,
O Lord my savior.

Psalm 68:4-6
Sing praises to God and to his name!
Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the LORD—
rejoice in his presence!
Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families;
he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.

Psalm 98:4-9
Shout to the LORD, all the earth;
break out in praise and sing for joy!
Sing your praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song,
with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn.
Make a joyful symphony before the LORD, the King!
Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
Let the earth and all living things join in.
Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!
Let the hills sing out their songs of joy
before the LORD,
for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice,
and the nations with fairness.

Psalm 128
How joyful are those who fear the LORD—
all who follow his ways!
You will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
How joyful and prosperous you will be!
Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine,
flourishing within your home.
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees
as they sit around your table.
That is the LORD’s blessing
for those who fear him.
May the LORD continually bless you from Zion.
May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.
May you live to enjoy your grandchildren.
May Israel have peace!

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This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. ¹¹ You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. ¹² He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, ¹³ both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. ¹⁴ Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.” – Genesis 17:10-14

I don’t like to say no. It’s most likely because I want everyone to like me. I want people to think well of me, and I figure if I say no, I’ll disappoint people. I know I should be more willing to say no when necessary. I also know that having everyone like you is neither possible nor healthy. So I work on it. But I still would rather say yes, find a way to make things happen, open doors, and allow access than say no. 

Not long ago I learned the trick of the positive no. It goes like this: “I think your idea is quite interesting, and in another setting it might really work well. But since we’re dedicated to ______, and this would undercut that, we’ll not be able to agree to it.” It’s a long way of saying no. Sometimes you just have to say no. 

There are sticking points of Scripture that I would rather not deal with. Issues around truth and salvation, condemnation, and judgment. Truth around issues of the day like sexuality, marriage, and the exclusive nature of salvation only through Jesus. I would rather that everyone simply believed what the Bible says, and was willing to accept the authority of Scripture and of God. 

Sadly, however, that’s not the case. Plenty of people – even those who claim to follow Jesus – trot out their personal spin on items of faith and life. As a colleague once said, “People like to use the Bible to justify whatever they want to do.” Ugh. 

But in the case of the covenant of God’s grace, there is a very simple line: You’re in or you’re out. In the case of Abraham and the people of the Old Testament, it’s all about circumcision. In the case of you and me, it’s all about our baptismal faith. Do you believe, trust, hope in, and wait for the eternal blessings of Jesus? Do you believe he is your righteousness? Are you baptized into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Do you repent daily and daily drown the old nature? Do you rely on God’s grace in Jesus? It’s that simple. 

But sadly there are those who do not believe. They dismiss the idea that they are sinners in need of redemption. They refuse to acknowledge that they must give an account to God. They reject the idea that there will be a judgment day. They deny the grace of God because they don’t believe they need it. They remove themselves from the Covenant of God’s grace. 

I’d rather that was not true. But I don’t have the last say here. God does. And thankfully his last word is centered in the forgiveness of sins, the hope of the resurrection, and the promise of the life of the world to come. These come through faith in Jesus Christ. That’s the part I really like!

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 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, ¹³ both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. ¹⁴ Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.” – Genesis 17:12-14

It used to be on the side of the large five-drawer file cabinet. The file cabinet was in my office at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Arlington. It was obvious to anyone who came in. “I KNOW THE FUTURE…GOD WINS!” Black with white letters. The text grew from left to right. Beyond that it was fairly plain. And as much as it says, the message is pretty good.

But there is much more to say. For if God is gracious, this is good news. If God is merciful, this is good news. If God is angry with the whole world, this is not good news. If God is waiting to trounce on any who sin, this is very bad news. If God is just, well… This is the catch. For justice demands balanced scales. Justice demands sins be paid for. Justice demands that evil be requited.

God is just. His judgment of the world during the days of Noah show that. His banishment of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden demonstrate it. The whole Bible testifies to this: “The soul that sins will die” (Ezekiel 18:20). If God is going to punish sins, and see that righteousness prevails, Houston has a problem. And so does St. Louis, Rome, Moscow, New York City, Berlin, Beijing, Nairobi, and every other city in the world. And so does Cypress, Texas…and every other name place in the world. And so does 123 Main Street, and every other address in the world. And so do I, and every other person in the world. 

Thankfully, however, God is not only just. He is also gracious and good, merciful and forgiving. All that will come into full view years later when God’s Son is born. Jesus will be all that every man, woman, and child was designed to be. Perfect righteousness, unwavering love, consistent faithfulness, and godly priorities will shape all he thinks, says, and does.

Sacrificial love will send Jesus to the cross for you and for me. He will be raised from the dead. He will come again at the end of time. This is God’s ultimate plan. Though it is not yet known to Abraham, it will come to pass. Abraham is looking forward to the birth of a son, Isaac. This was God’s promise to him. But the Son to be born – who himself will be a descendant of Abraham – is not to come for many centuries.

In the mean time, Isaac will be born. Abraham and Sarah will carry on with their lives. And people yet to be part of Abraham’s household will be brought into the covenant of God’s grace. Marked in those days with circumcision, even slaves yet to be bought, and children yet to be born will be welcomed into God’s Covenant of Grace. This is the plan of God. This is the future of God’s people.

My trite but true bumper sticker hints at something. There is a future hope. There is a plan. And it’s hinted at in the words, “Every male throughout your generations.” The New Testament gives witness to our place in God’s plan. We have been chosen before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) to be part of God’s Covenant of Grace. Satan will do all he can to thwart that plan. Men and women will color outside all the lines of that plan. Temptation will seek to lure people from the path of faith and make shipwreck of their faith.

But God wins! No matter what. And those who long for his redemption can be certain that come Satan or shipwreck, stumble or sin, repentance puts us back into that covenant of grace. That’s a future hope for which I am deeply thankful. I hope you are too.

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He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

Genesis 17:12-14

These are the days of intense political correctness, and critical theories. Some wonder how we’ve gotten here. Everyone from Civil War heroes to Founding Fathers and Televangelists to Hollywood stars are being scrutinized. He owned slaves. He Abused women. He embezzled funds. Everyone has a past subject to the worst possible conclusions. No one is free from accusation.

It’s obvious that those who abused their power or position need forgiveness. And what of those who were abused? What of the slaves? What of those who were cheated? It should be no less obvious that those who have been mistreated need redemption. The grace and goodness of God is a treasure for all people.

I read a book once about adult survivors of sexual abuse. The major premise of the book was that these survivors had one need above all others. It was a stunning proposition. Victims need forgiveness more than anything else. You may wonder how anyone could arrive at that conclusion. But certainly you would agree that victims need rescuing.

That makes these words of God to Abraham about circumcision so very precious. This covenant of God’s grace is not reserved for powerful and successful. This covenant is for all people. It includes slaves. It includes the son of a woman who was used and discarded by Abraham and Sarah. God will rescue us all from the just deserts and grave consequences of sin.

Perhaps you have been abused by the powerful people in your live. Maybe those more worldly-wise have taken advantage of your naïveté. You may have walked into a trap that you should have seen coming and been ambushed in front of colleagues or friends. You might have done one of those things to someone else.

We all fit into at least one of these categories. Either by means of Satan’s deceptions and accusations, whiles and schemes, or the subterfuge of our own sinful flesh. We are all in a world of broken relationships and fallen people.

God’s covenant of grace will restore all things to their rightful places. Scales will be rebalanced. Sin will be atoned for, and sinners will be forgiven. Victims will be restored. The high and mighty will be brought low and the lowly will be exalted.

This is shown here in the inclusion of slaves and masters, aliens and Abraham’s own household. We may suffer the consequences of our own failures or others’ sins against us. But we are not removed from God’s reign and reign. Those who embrace that by faith will discover how sweet is the redemption of God.

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And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.”

Genesis 17:9-10

We recently got a new-to-us car. It’s a white SUV. Just like the one it replaced. But something curious: we’ve noticed more white SUVs on the roads these days than we had before. Perhaps it’s simply that awareness of them is enhanced by the new vehicle we are driving. I don’t think it’s because there are actually more of them on the road than ever before. It might also be that we’ve been on a road trip, and with more miles come more hours and more opportunities to spot white SUVs.

When I first began delving into a more dedicated study of the Bible, I made a similar discovery about baptism. As I read the New Testament – especially the letters to the various churches – I began to see references to baptism all over the place. There’s the reference to the cloak of righteousness that we have through baptism (Galatians 3:27). Paul reminds us that the one who does the baptizing is not as important as Jesus, the One into whom we have been baptized (1 Corinthians 1:14-16). And there’s the connection between baptism and circumcision (Colossians 2:11).

No one questions the idea that women should be baptized. That’s not really curious, but it is notable. For baptism is the New Testament replacement for circumcision. The boys were to be circumcised at 8 days of age. But baptism applies to all people. There is no age or sex limitation on baptism. Jesus commands his disciples to make disciples of all people, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Women, men, girls, boys, infants and children: all are to be baptized.

The choice in regard to both circumcision and baptism is that of the parents. They did ask their boys if they wanted to be circumcised. They simply were to have them circumcised. So too with baptism. Just like circumcision, we need not ask our children whether they wish to be baptized. They are not even aware that they need it!

Which leads me to think about how we live out all this. In the case of Christian families, we are to have our children baptized. It’s the command of Jesus. But it’s not the whole command of Jesus. He also commands that we teach those we baptize to obey all things he has commanded. Living it out means that we teach our children to live in the ways of Jesus.

If we have been baptized, we are to live like those who belong to Jesus. God has put his name on us. We are his children. We have been washed and set aside to live a different kind of life as we reflect our true identity as children of God.

As such, perhaps we will have a greater awareness of others who live a new and different life. Certainly we can look for others who are living a new life – especially if we are living a new life of faithful obedience. That’s not quite the same as noticing other white SUVs, nor even remotely as important. It’s far more important. And a deepening awareness of our status and identity as people of God through baptism and faith will serve us well as we look for peple along the same path, and encourage others to join us along that path as well.

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And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

Genesis 17:9-14

I’ll admit, I wondered how to handle this particular part of the Abraham narrative. I know we’re all mature people. We don’t need to snicker in the corner when we talk about circumcision. But circumcision is no longer a requirement for God’s people – any more than observances of Old Testament rituals and laws (cf. Acts 15:28-29). Furthermore, this practice has been replaced – or better yet, subsumed – by baptism (Colossians 2:11-12).

Two words from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on this passage do strike me, however: “The covenant of grace is from everlasting in the counsels of it, and to everlasting in the consequences of it.” In other words, the idea of God’s grace is no new idea, originating even in the times of Abraham. It springs from eternity, from the heart and character of God. And this covenant of grace is eternal in its consequences: God’s grace impacts every aspect of our lives throughout all eternity.

The idea that God somehow had to start over when Adam and Eve sinned springs from a very short-sighted vision and human-limited understanding of God’s nature. God knows all things. There are no surprises with him. He saw it all coming. That means he knew Adam and Eve would sin. He knew he would call Abraham. He knew Isaac would be born. He also knew Jesus would be born. And live. And suffer. And die. And rise. And come again.

God has no Plan B when it comes to the eternal glory of his grace. It was part of his plan from before the beginning. And our eternity will be filled with praises to his glorious grace (cf. Ephesians 1:3-6). God is all about grace. It’s part of his character. And it’s what brings us to him and sustains us along the way.

It is so very encouraging to me also that this covenant extends not only to Abraham and his son Isaac who will be born to fulfill God’s initial promise to Abraham and Sarah. It also extends to Ishmael and all who are brought into Abraham’s family are part of it. This grace is broad. That might mean there is room in the grace of God for me! And if there is room for me, might there also be room for you?