The beginning of Circumcision

Jan 5 (Gen. 16-18) The Orthodox Study Bible
Sarai, had an Egyptian maidservant, Hagar. Abram obeyed Sarai to go to her to obtain children, as Sarai was childless. After Hagar conceived, she despised Sarai, and after harsh words from Sarai, Hagar fled from her presence. The angel of the Lord told her to humble herself and return assuring her that her seed will be multiplied exceedingly. He said, "Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son." Naming him Ishmael, because of her humiliation. He will be a rustic man, and his hand shall be against every man, and every man against him. Abram was 86 years old when he fathered Ishmael.

At 99 the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am your God; be pleasing before Me and blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly." "you shall be a father of many nations." "This is the covenant you shall keep, between Me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin."

Who ever broke the covenant was cut off from his people. Then, Sarai's name was changed to Sarah, with the promise of the birth of a son. Abraham was one hundred years old, Sarah past child bearing years, at ninety, would call her son Isaac, and who would have an everlasting covenant, would be born at that time next year. Ishmael was thirteen and Abraham was ninety-nine when they were circumcised, along with all the men born or bought living in that household.

The hospitality of Abraham begins in chapter 18, with the acknowledgement of Abraham recognizing the Lord and bowed himself to the ground, saying "O Lord, if I have now found grace in Your sight, do not pass by Your servant." Abraham prepares water to wash His feet while cooling under the tree. Food is prepared and set before them, two angels and the Lord.

They asked where Sarah was, (she was listening in the tent door behind him), bearing the news that she will now have a son. She laughed within herself because of her age. The Lord said why did she laugh? She denied it because of fear, "saying I did not laugh" but He said, "No, but you did laugh." Is anything impossible with God?

Abraham intercedes for Sodom and Gomorrah, asking Him, (while the other two angels went toward Sodom) "Would You also destroy the righteous with the ungodly?" It began with fifty righteous and ended up back and forth that the Lord would not destroy for the sake of even ten. "He said, "I would not destroy it for the sake of ten." The Lord went His way, to Sodom, Abraham returning to his home.

My notes:Righteousness and judgment are the gifts of the Lord to the faithful, because they know the Lord and Keep His ways. In the case of Sarai, she must have wanted children badly to send her maid to her husband to accomplish this. Saying to Abram, "I gave my maid to your embrace." I can only imagine how hurtful that had to be for her. Abram clearly loved his wife Sarai saying, "Indeed, your maid is in your hand; do with her as you please." (One can only imagine the bad feelings between the two woman).
Hagar makes a huge proclamation when she says, "You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees-Me"; for she said, "I have seen the One who appeared to me face to face." I think it must have been hard for her to return to Abram under the harsh dealings of Sarai. Yet, I'm sure it wasn't easy for Abraham, the father of many nations, to be circumcised at the the age of ninety-nine.
The Lord sent the two angels to destroy Sodom but by the Lord's mercy, through the intercession of Abraham, allowing Abraham to participate in the work, delivered him (L0t). Lot was the only righteous person in the entire place. remember the words of Hagar, "You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees-Me." The same God we will see face to face.