B'resheet 17:18-19 And Abraham said to G-d, "Oh that Yishma'el might live before Thee!" But G-d said, "No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Yitz'chak (Isaac); and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
Oh that Yishma'el might live before Thee - Abraham is still trying to help G-d do His job.
Yitz'chak (Isaac) - means laughter.
My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him - The EVERLASTING COVENANT is between G-d and Isaac.
Romans 4:18-19 In hope against hope he believed, in order that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, "So shall your descendants be." And without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb;
Sarah's body was a place of death and an empty tomb. Life would come out of this tomb promised by G-d Almighty. Interesting!
B'resheet 17:20 And as for Yishma'el, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year."
G-d has not forgotten Yishma'el or his descendants. He loves them very much. He promised to bless them and He has. Their lands are over flowing with oil and Yishma'el descendants are quite numerous too.
BUT - A little word with great meaning. "But My covenant I will establish with Isaac" G-d loved Yishma'el BUT His major plan is for Isaac. The descendants of Yishma'el have carried resentment against the descendants Isaac because of G-d's decision ever since.
B'resheet 17:22-27 And when He finished talking with him, G-d went up from Abraham. Then Abraham took Yishma'el his son, and all the servants who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the very same day, as G-d had said to him. Now Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And Yishma'el his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. In the very same day Abraham was circumcised, and Yishma'el his son. And all the men of his household, who were born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
Presumably Abraham still had steady hands and good eyesight had at the age of 99 to perform all of these circumcisions.
Circumcision is a sign of the covenant. The Israelites did not circumcise themselves to become a part of the covenant. They already had the covenant. It is the same as believers today. We do not get immersed to obtain eternal redemption either. We get immersed as a sign we have been redeemed.
In addition there was a health benefit, disease could be carried in the foreskin so cutting it away, prevented disease. Historically, Jewish women have had the lowest rate of cervical cancer.
Cutting away the foreskin symbolized cutting sin out of their lives and being "spiritually clean" before the L-rd. It was not
Something one could show of because of its location. It was a bloody job!
Abraham was considered righteous before he was circumcised.
Romans 4:9-12 Is this blessing then upon the circumcised, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say, "Faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness." How then was it reckoned? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be reckoned to them, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
We are told that to be spiritual children of Abraham, we all, both Jewish and Gentile, must be circumcised in our heart. This is also something that cannot be shown off. It also was a bloody job! Yeshua on the execution stake.
Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from G-d. (cf: Deut. 10:16; Jer. 4:4; Jer. 31:31-34)
Has your heart been circumcised? In other words has the sin in your heart been cut out? Have you followed the Spirit by giving your life to the Father through Yeshua? Have you been sealed in Him? (Eph. 1:3-14)
Please feel free to e-mail us privately to discuss this if you are not sure.
Darryl and Elaine