Before the existence of the nation of Israel, God made a covenant agreement with His chosen servant Abram. The Lord appeared to Abram and promised to multiply his seed greatly. He promised Abram that he would walk, "blame less," before Him, he would become the father of many nations.

After God swore an oath with Abram, He decided that he needed a name change. Hence his new name became Abraham because he would become the father of many nations. He promised him that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan where he was dwelling as a stranger.

He also changed the name of his wife Sarai. It was because she would become a mother of nations. In fact Kings of people would become her descendants.

What was Abraham's part of God's covenant? "This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you a nd your descendants after you: every male child among you shall be circumcised; And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.

"He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant." (Genesis chapter 17:10-13.)

The covenant of circumcision was so important that any uncircumcised male child would become cut off from his people. Why would he become cut off from his people? Because he had broken the covenant relationship between God and himself.

At this time of the covenant agreement between Abraham and God the only male child he had born unto him was Ishmael the son of Hagar Sarai's bond maiden. Even though the descendants of Ishmael would not become part of the covenant nation of Israel, he would become the father of many nations. Ishmael would become fruitful and would "beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation." (Genesis chapter 17:20)

Abraham's circumcision's covenant agreement with God was passed down to his son Issac who was born to him through his wife, Sarah. God did not establish his covenant with Issac's eldest twin son of Esau. It was his second son Jacob, who received the eldest son's birth right and blessing.

Jacob had two wives Leah and Rachel and between the two of them and their bond maidens the twelve tribes of Israel were born.

It was in the book of Genesis chapter thirty five when God decided to contact Jacob again. Jacob took his household and went to Bethel and dwelt there. In Bethel, Jacob

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