1 When Abram was ninety- nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, (Genesis 17:1)
Though the Law of Moses had not been issued yet, the Law of God has been in effect from eternity past. Men have always been responsible to walk "blameless" before the Lord and thus be acceptable before Him. It is important to realize that that this "blameless" is not necessarily the holiness required of the sacrificial lamb in the law. We're told, for instance that both Noah (Genesis 5) and Job (Job 1) were, indeed, blameless before the Lord. David, in Psalm 119:1, urged believers to seek this practical blamelessness. The Lord Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, told us to be "perfect" as His heavenly Father was perfect. The point of the command was to drive Abram to look to God and not to himself.
2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” (Genesis 17:2)
The condition of "blamelessness" set forth in the prior verse is here demonstrated as to it's purpose. It is a condition of fellowship with God, here put in terms of the Covenant made with Israel. Without "blamelessness", no fellowship can be enjoyed. This is because of the character of God and the need for man to measure up to that character in order to have an more than evangelistic contact with Him.
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