Answer
Abraham was visited by three men one day; the men turned out to be unusual guests, to say the least, and the visit was life-changing for Abraham and Sarah. Genesis 18:1–2 says, “The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.” Abraham showed immediate hospitality to the three men, inviting them to rest under a tree and preparing a big meal for them (verses 3–8).
Genesis 17:1 says, “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.” Here we have God identifying Himself as El-Shaddai and giving him some instructions on how to live. Later in the same conversation, God renames Abram (verse 5) and commands circumcision as a sign of the covenant (verses 9–14).
Abram had already received promises from God, such as the promise of countless descendants and the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:1–3). However, at ninety-nine years old, Abram had yet to see these promises fulfilled. God’s appearance to Abram in Genesis 17 reaffirms His earlier promises. He renames Abram as Abraham, meaning “father of a multitude.” God’s dual command to Abraham (“walk before me and be thou perfect”) is given in the context of this reaffirmation. Every promise will be fulfilled, but Abraham has a responsibility to be faithful and obedient.
The Hebrew phrase translated as “walk before me” suggests an ongoing relationship with God. In other words, Abraham must continue to walk with God. Moreover, Abraham should be “perfect.” This does not imply sinless perfection but rather wholehearted devotion to God. In this sense, God is calling Abraham to a life of unwavering devotion. Other translations word the command as “Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life” (NLT) and “Live in my presence and be blameless” (CSB).
Abraham’s life is a great example of what it means to walk before God and be perfect. He was not without his faults, but his life was one of faithful obedience. Hebrews 11:8–10 commends Abraham’s faith, noting that he obeyed God’s call to leave Haran and go to Canaan (see Genesis 12:1–4). Abraham’s faith was not just intellectual assent but life-changing action. Abraham demonstrated his faith in his obedience (see Genesis 15:6 and Galatians 3:6).
To “walk before me” means to be aware of God’s presence and align with His will. There are several places in Scripture that speak of one’s “walk” with God. For instance, in Micah 6:8, the prophet states, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (ESV; cf. Deuteronomy 10:12).
Likewise, the New Testament emphasizes the importance of walking with God. In Ephesians 4:1, Paul writes, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” (ESV). To “walk” in the biblical sense is to live habitually, to practice a lifestyle. To “walk before God” is to live with the knowledge that God is always with us; that all we do is observed by Him.
The call for Abraham to be “perfect” in Genesis 17:1 is about having integrity of heart toward God. Psalm 101:2 expresses the psalmist’s desire to be perfect or blameless: “I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh, when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house” (ESV). Jesus calls His disciples to pursue this type of maturity and blamelessness: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48, ESV).
Like Abraham, we should strive to live with a continuous awareness of God’s presence and to pursue integrity of heart in our relationship with Him. We must trust and obey His Word, knowing that faithful obedience is pleasing to Him. As Paul says in Philippians 2:15, we are to be “blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (ESV). May we always walk with God, shining the light of His glory.
