indicate the Nations of the earth as distinct from the Nation -- Israel.

After giving the ordinance of circumcision to Abraham as a 'token' of the

covenant made by God with him, the Lord said concerning every one of

Abraham's seed who were not circumcised 'that soul shall be cut off from his

people; he hath broken My covenant' (Gen. 17:14).  Here therefore, we have a

'peculiar people', a people marked with an unnatural sign, a people who

carried with them a symbolic repudiation of the flesh, and a sign that they

rested in the promise of God as Abraham did, who when he was as good as dead

'against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many

nations; according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be' (Rom.

When the term 'the circumcision' was applied spiritually to the

believer in the Gospel of grace, the same principle, namely, the repudiation

of the flesh and the full trust in the Lord, is preserved:

'For we are the circumcision, which worship God In Spirit, and boast in

Christ Jesus, and have no confidence In the Flesh' (Phil. 3:3 author's

Here, therefore, in Genesis 17:14 we have the first reference to this

distinctive and peculiar 'people', a people in covenant relationship with the

God of Abraham, and bearing in their flesh this 'token'.  Our purpose is not

the exposition of all that circumcision involves but merely to set before the

reader this most important fact, that the word 'people' assumes its

distinctive meaning at the time of the introduction of this symbolic rite.

In the opening verses of Genesis 17, a very special indication of the

Lord's purpose is given by the change of Abraham's name.  Originally he was

called Abram, a name meaning 'high father' and one that was common among his

people, but at this juncture the Lord confirms His promise saying, 'I will

multiply thee exceedingly', adding:

'As for Me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a

father of many nations.  Neither shall thy name any more be called

Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have

I made thee' (Gen. 17:4,5).

After the institution of the token of  circumcision, the Lord speaks of

Sarah.  Her name too is changed; originally it was Sarai, but now it becomes

Sarah, the letter 'H' being added to both the names of Abraham and his wife.

To Abraham it had been said, 'kings shall come out of thee' (Gen. 17:6), so

now of Sarah it was spoken:

'I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her; yea, I will bless

her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of

her' (Gen. 17:16).

The word people is plural, and should be translated 'peoples'.  Here we

have a promise concerning 'nations' and 'peoples' which, while including the

one nation and the one people, is not exclusively referring to Israel.  The

full title of the Lord in connection with this covenant is 'The God of

Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob' and it is to Jacob that the next promise is

made referring to the 'people'.  Upon leaving home to go to Padan -aram,

Isaac blessed Jacob with the words: