After the mess and complications caused by the birth of Ishmael in chapter 16, thirteen more years pass when suddenly God reappears to Abram. God Almighty reveals Himself & renews the covenant promises of chapter 15 giving Abram more detail about the land that he will be given, the son who will come through Sarai and that this covenant will be everlasting. God gives Abram & Sarai new names as a sign of all He will do before Isaac is even born. In response they are to walk blamelessly, the men are to be circumcised, as a sign in their flesh of all that God will do. We look forward to the true seed, the bringer of the everlasting covenant, who makes us true heirs of Abraham, who promises us a heavenly country and who by the power of the Holy Spirit ensures even we can fulfil our side of the covenant.
