Genesis 17 The Lord appeared to Abram once again when he is 99 years old. Many years had passed since the day that He made the first covenant promising the land to Abraham's descendants.  Ishmael is now 13 years old.  Sarai is still barren and almost 90 years old.  Yet, God tells Abram that he will have a son with Sarai.. in fact it will happen within the next year. 

God gives Abram a name change.. he becomes Abraham.. "father of multitudes."  Sarai becomes Sarah.. "Princess"..  Their son will be named Isaac - "He laughs".  God initiates a new covenant with Abraham.. He will bless and multiply Abraham's descendants  and Abraham will circumcise all the males in his household.  God promises to always be the God of Abraham's descendants.. and He will make them a fruitful nation. 

Abraham believed God and obeyed by circumcising himself and all the males in his household that very same day.  

Abraham wanted blessing for Ishmael too.  " Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee!" he asked the Lord. And God promised to bless him and make him into a great nation too. But, the covenant would be kept with those that came from Abraham and Sarah.  Isaac would be the one to receive the covenant and promise. Once again we see God making a distinction between one person and the other.

Father in heaven, You are the Sovereign God, Almighty and Infinite in wisdom and power. You have moved throughout history to bring us to the place we are today... You know both where we have come from and where we are going.. We thank You that we are called by Your Name and belong to You. We believe that You have brought us to this day.. to this place.. for Your purposes.  You have circumcised our hearts.. that we might be fully Yours. May we walk in truth and righteousness before You today and every day. Fill us Spirit of God that we might be a holy people.. set apart for Your glory.  We worship and bow before You, willing to surrender all to You, even as Abraham did so many years ago.  Help us we pray. Amen.