“I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly” (v1-2). God called Abraham to follow Him, initiating a special relationship, and Abraham responded in faith. Circumcision was the sign of this covenant between God and Abraham and Abraham’s descendants (v11). Significantly, the family would not multiply naturally, but through supposedly infertile Sarah and the miracle baby Isaac (v19).

“And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you” (v7). Through His interactions with Abraham’s family, the Lord revealed His goodness to a sinful world. His promises were ultimately fulfilled through Abraham’s descendant, Jesus, whose “new covenant” makes us all “Abraham’s offspring” (Luke 22:20, Gal 3:29).