A New Name, a New Life

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Genesis 17:1–9 ESV

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, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.” 9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.

24 years since we first saw God call Abram. What if we were to consider the story and try to do so without remembering the end.

Remember the phrase: Know for certain… My yes means yes. He may as well have cupped Abram’s face in His hands...

The callings of God never leave a man where they find him.

The promises include:

Father of many nations, kings will come from you - you will be for I have made you

The land of Canaan

To be your God and the God of your descendants

The promise will come through your wife Sarai

The promises are illuminated by the character of God Himself

The measure of our belief in the promises of God are directly proportional to our understanding of the character of God.

All the things that were impossible in the circumstances here shrink in the light of El Shaddai. Not sure of that name of God? V.1 I am God Almighty

The new names reflect a new purpose

Sarah - princess to give a royal line

Abraham -

Isaac - laughed - v.17 every time he called his son by name he remembered the joy and wonder of God’s promise that day

Ella

Declared Confirmation

Demanded Consecration

He required a response - as for Me/as for you

Of humble adoration - fell facedown - bowed before the power of God

Of faith not settling for good instead of best, adequacy instead of abundance, Ishmael instead of Isaac

Your part of the contract is to obey its terms