Gen 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

Gen 17:1  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.  It was full thirteen years of silence from God after the birth of Ishmael. When Genesis 17 opens, Abraham was 99 years old and Sarah 90. The wait for the promised seed was deferred for another 13 years. It was the price Abraham and Sarah paid for rushing God. God first statement to Abraham after 13 years was a reproof to this great man of faith: “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect” (v.1). I am the Almighty God – The Hebrew is “I am El - Shaddai.” “EL” is the generic name of God. The origin and meaning of "Shaddai" are obscure. The common ones are destroyer, mountain, and sufficient. El Shaddai is commonly translated as God almighty - like a mountain and a destroyer. Knowing that God is El Shaddai matters because it reminds us that He is our mighty God, and like Him there is no other. It is one reason it is the first thing that God spoke to Abraham after a thirteen years silence – to remind him that He is the God almighty and nothing is impossible for Him. Thirteen years ago, Abraham and Sarah thought they were too old to have a child. Sarah is now way passed the child bearing age; she is an old woman. God is telling Abraham: “Abraham, I am the God almighty. Nothing is impossible for me. Trust me - Sarah will bear a son.” That Abraham and Sarah being so far stricken in age, God’s power in this matter is even more magnified. Walk before me – Abraham and Sarah were walking ahead of God when they thought to fulfil God’s promise the human way. Abraham needed to be like his ancestor Enoch: “Enoch walked with God” (Genesis 5:24). Enoch was not the only person who walked with God. His great-grandson Noah too “walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). How did Noah walk with God? Genesis 6:22 answers: “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” To walk with God is to walk in obedience to His commandments. What else are involved when we walk with God? To answer the question, consider how two persons are walking together. In our culture, we say when a man and a woman are in courtship they are walking together. Our parents will at times ask: “Daughter, you have been walking with this man for three years, when are you two getting married?” What do they do when they are walking together? Do they do their own things – he is playing games in his handphone and she is watching a video in hers? I don’t think so! They will be talking, laughing, listening, eating, and sharing their hearts. Their attention is focused on each other to the exclusion of almost everything else. They are enjoying each other’s company. One who walks with God will enjoy His company. Do you enjoy being in the presence of God? “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Psalm 122:1). Be thou perfect – Abraham’s faith is not perfect. God says Abraham needs to walk before Him to be perfect. God is not referring to sinless perfection but a faith that is matured. Question: Are we perfect? Yes, God make us perfect in Christ Jesus (1 Peter 5:10). How can we continue to walk perfectly in Christ? By the word of God (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). The word of God can make us perfect. But that is only true when we obey it. Noah’s perfection comes from doing all that God has commanded him. Likewise, the word of God is of no use if we do not obey its commands. Our God is the God almighty; let us walk before Him and be perfect.