And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
The meeting came after Abram had lived nearly twenty-five years in Canaan, when he was ninety-nine years old. God had called him away from an idolatrous people to worship Jehovah, to be taught by Him and to receive His instruction. In this appearance God declared Himself the Almighty God and commanded Abram to walk before Him and be perfect. Abram fell on his face in awe before the divine presence, and while he lay prostrate God continued talking with him. What God then said was His covenant with Abram and his descendants, promising that he would become the father of many nations.
Those covenant promises to Abraham were later confirmed to Isaac. They included spiritual blessings and the lineage through which the Redeemer would come, and receiving them carried the duty to serve God and obey His requirements. The covenant's sign of circumcision marked Abraham and his descendants as separated from other nations and pledged them to keep the covenant by remaining separate and living obediently, since mixing with other nations exposed them to idolatry and drew them away from their holy character and God's requirements.
The meeting came after Abram had lived nearly twenty-five years in Canaan, when he was ninety-nine years old. God had called him away from an idolatrous people to worship Jehovah, to be taught by Him and to receive His instruction. In this appearance God declared Himself the Almighty God and commanded Abram to walk before Him and be perfect. Abram fell on his face in awe before the divine presence, and while he lay prostrate God continued talking with him. What God then said was His covenant with Abram and his descendants, promising that he would become the father of many nations.
Those covenant promises to Abraham were later confirmed to Isaac. They included spiritual blessings and the lineage through which the Redeemer would come, and receiving them carried the duty to serve God and obey His requirements. The covenant's sign of circumcision marked Abraham and his descendants as separated from other nations and pledged them to keep the covenant by remaining separate and living obediently, since mixing with other nations exposed them to idolatry and drew them away from their holy character and God's requirements.