Read with Me
Genesis 17:1-8 (HCSB)
When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in My presence and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you greatly.”
Then Abram fell facedown and God spoke with him: “As for Me, My covenant is with you: you will become the father of many nations. Your name will no longer be Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I will make you the father of many nations. I will make you extremely fruitful and will make nations and kings come from you. I will keep My covenant between Me and you, and your future offspring throughout their generations, as an everlasting covenant to be your God and the God of your offspring after you. And to you and your future offspring I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession, and I will be their God.”
Listen with Me
Moses noted at the end of this the previous section that Abram was 86 years old when Hagar’s son, Ishmael, was born. Now, he starts this section noting that 13 years have passed. Abram was now 99 years old, and his son Ishmael was 13.
Even though Moses provided no details of this 13-year gap, we know that Ishmael had grown and matured into a teenager, and Abram’s heart had grown more and more attached to him. He was not Sarah’s child genetically, but he was legally, so he was not considered less that a full son in Abram’s eyes.
At this point, the time had finally come for God’s miraculous intervention into Abram’s and Sarah’s situation. But rather than simply do what needed to be done to Abram and Sarai, which could leave open the possibility of interpreting Sarai’s pregnancy as chance, God came in advance to announce what He was doing.
Immediately after appearing to Abram, God reaffirmed His covenant with him, stating that Abram would not merely be the ancestor of a great nation, he would be the ancestor of many nations. And in token of that promise, God changed Abram’s name, which currently meant “exalted father”, to Abraham, which means “father of a multitude”.
This news would have shocked Abram. He was perfectly content with Ishmael as his son and heir, and at that point in his life had ceased to hope for more children. But God was insistent that Ishmael was only the first of many sons, who would go on to produce many tribes and nations. Ultimately Abraham fathered eight sons (Genesis 25:1-2), each of whom was the ancestor of a great nation in the Middle East.
In addition to reminding Abraham of God’s promise to provide sons to him, God also reminded him of His promise that his descendants would inherit the land in which he was now living as a permanent possession. Abraham may have forgotten some of the details of the promise, but God never does.
Pray with Me
Father, we tend to be very impatient when you make us a promise. We want it now, and we grow impatient, or even disillusioned, when time passed by without seeing Your promise fulfilled. Or like Abraham, we grow content with the status quo and quit even looking for the fulfillment, taking our own efforts and the results they produce as adequate. But You are never in a hurry. You always wait to fulfill Your promise until the time is exactly right, performing mighty miracles and fulfilling Your promises to the letter. Lord, help me to be patient as I wait, holding tightly to Your promises and trusting in Your ability to do all You have promised, and even more. Amen.
Exciting news! The next two volumes in the When We Listen devotional series have been released! Luke and John are now available on Amazon. You can click on the links below for more information or to order them. If you are in the Portland Metro area in Oregon, I will be doing a release party and book signing on Tuesday, October 8, from 6-8 p.m. The new books will be available for purchase at a discounted rate. The release party will be at the Woodburn Area Chamber of Commerce Office, 1755 Mount Hood Ave, Unit 120, Woodburn, Oregon, 97071. It would be great to meet those of you who live nearby!
Luke
John