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Old Testament Reading - God's covenant with Abraham

¹When Abram was ninety-nine years old, God appeared to him and told him, “I am the Almighty; obey me and live as you should.

^9-10“Your part of the contract,” God told him, “is to obey its terms. You personally and all your posterity have this continual responsibility: that every male among you shall be circumcised.

¹⁵Then God added, “Regarding Sarai your wife—her name is no longer ‘Sarai’ but ‘Sarah’ (‘Princess’). ¹⁶And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and make her the mother of nations! Many kings shall be among your posterity.”

¹⁷Then Abraham threw himself down in worship before the Lord, but inside he was laughing in disbelief!^a “Me, be a father?” he said in amusement. “Me—100 years old? And Sarah, to have a baby at 90?”

¹⁸And Abraham said to God, “Yes, do bless Ishmael!”

¹⁹“No,” God replied, “that isn’t what I said. Sarah shall bear you a son; and you are to name him Isaac (‘Laughter’), and I will sign my covenant with him forever, and with his descendants. ²⁰As for Ishmael, all right, I will bless him also, just as you have asked me to. I will cause him to multiply and become a great nation. Twelve princes shall be among his posterity. ²¹But my contract is with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah next year at about this time.”

²²That ended the conversation and God left.

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