Genesis 17:1-2 – “Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless.  2 “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”  NASB

Did you catch the condition that is interwoven in every directive of God as a prerequisite for His blessings?  Abram was 99 years of age and God appeared to him with the promise of Covenant.  The declaration of God was, “I am God Almighty.”  The Hebrew word for God is ‘El’ and the word for Almighty is ‘Shaddai’.  We recognize the name El-Shaddai as one of the names of God that convey His Power as well as His Purpose.

Honestly, we need nothing more than the declaration of God that He is God and that He is Almighty!  That alone should give us peace and comfort.  That declaration alone should inspire a sense of trust that transcends all human emotions or thoughts.  When God identifies Himself descriptively as “God Almighty” we know immediately that He is going to announce something that is beyond human possibility or Impossible.  However, with Him, there is no Impossible and our Impossible is His normal.

But the condition that I want to call our attention to is the end of that sentence.  He said, “Walk before Me (the God Who Is Almighty).”  That, in my mind, is a terrible and wonderful consideration.  How can I walk before or in the presence of such a being?  He is Holy and Almighty.  He is the Living God, the Creator of all things, and the Giver and Sustainer of life.  Abram was told to walk or live before this one.  If he was not trembling when he heard that he should have been.

God did not stop there but continued saying, “and be blameless.”  The KJV renders it ‘perfect’ a word that comes from the Hebrew “tamiym” which means ‘entire’.  Be complete.  But, how can I be complete, perfect, blameless in the presence of God?  The Bible advises that each of us has sinned and come short of God’s Glory.  Inherent in our makeup is a spirit of rebellion dating back to the Garden of Eden.  It is only through the shed blood of Jesus that we are transformed and made new creations, Saved!

The Bible tells us that Abraham, who Abram became as a result of this Covenant believed God and it was accredited to him as righteousness.  His standing before God was not simply his behavior but his commitment to God.  He trusted God and that made him a candidate for the Blessing of God’s Covenant to be announced and implemented in his life.

The condition that is vital is “be blameless.”  You cannot be blameless if you harbor hate in your heart.  You cannot be blameless if you embrace doubt in your heart. You cannot be blameless if you continue to disobey the directives and purposes of God.  We are told in Hebrews 11:6 that “without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.”  The writer informs us of a vital truth that if we come to God, we must believe that He is.  If I question the existence of God, I cannot come to Him and have faith.  If I question Him as Creator of all things, I do not meet the minimum qualifications for faith. 

Not only must I believe that He is, but I must also believe that He is who He says He is.  He is a rewarder or a blesser of those who seek Him!  When I continue reading Genesis 17:2-5, I hear some of the most amazing words and it provides a powerful basis for my hope and trust.  He says to Abram, “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”  3 And Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; For I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.”  NASB

What a Promise!  But it is even better for we read in Galatians 3 that Jesus redeemed us from the Curse of the Law and ushered us into God’s Grace so that…  So that what?  In Galatians 3:14, “in order that in Christ Jesus the blessings of Abraham might come to the Gentiles so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”  The Blessings and the Covenant of Abraham have been extended to us, but the condition is still a requirement.

Let’s pursue holiness and seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and enter into the fullness of the Abundant Life that Jesus came to bring. 

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!