God's part of the deal
1Abram was 99 years old when the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. [1] Stay close to me. Don’t cause any trouble; be a man of integrity. 2I’m drawing up a contract between me and you. You’re going to get one huge family out of this, with more descendants than anyone could ever count.”3Abram dropped to the ground, face to the dirt. God said, 4“Here’s my part in this contract. I’m going to make you the father of many nations. 5I’m changing your name, too. We’re dropping Abram. [2] From now on you’re Abraham. [3] I picked that name because you’re going to be the father of many nations. 6I’m going to make you fertile. Out of you, I’ll grow nations of people—kings included. 7I’m making this contract not only with you, but with your descendants as well. To all of you, I will be your God forever. So this contract starts here and ends never. 8You’re an immigrant in this land of Canaan. [4] But I’m giving every bit of this land to you and your descendants. This will be a family-owned land forever. I’ll be God to your family.”
Abraham's part of the deal: circumcision
9Then God said to Abraham, “Here’s your part of the contract—the responsibilities I’m requiring of you and your descendants in every generation. 10These are the terms for you and your family throughout the generations. Circumcise every male. 11Cut off the foreskin. That’s how you’ll sign this contract. 12Throughout the generations, whenever a boy is born in your family you must circumcise him when he is eight days old. The same goes for any slaves born in your household and under your authority, even if they are foreigners you bought. 13Circumcise the boy of every slave and of every servant you bought who is born in your household. This way, your bodies will carry your signature of the contract, which is everlasting. 14If anyone refuses to get circumcised, he is in breach of contract and is no longer one of my people.”15God told Abraham, “Don’t call your wife Sarai anymore. Call her Sarah. [5] 16“I’m going to bless her and make good things happen in her life. For starters, you’re going to have a son with her. She will be the mother of kings and nations.”
17Abraham fell on his face again. This time he was laughing. He tried to hide it while he was bowed low and thinking to himself, “How on earth can a 100-year-old man and a 90-year-old woman make a baby?” 18Composing himself, Abraham said to God, “My prayer is that Ishmael will stay close to you and be rewarded for it.”
19“You misunderstand,” God said. “Sarah will have your son. You’ll call him Isaac. [6] I’m making my contract through you with Isaac. It’s his descendants that I’m writing into this everlasting contract. 20Don’t worry about Ishmael. I hear you. I’ll take care of him and make good things happen for him, too. I’ll make sure he has a big family. He’ll become the father of a dozen princes whose families will grow into a great nation. 21But my contract extends to only Isaac and his descendants. He’ll be born about this time next year.” 22When God finished talking, he left.
