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Daily Devotions

Genesis

Genesis 
Day 
Day 86

"The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant." Psalm 25:14

Text: Genesis 17:1-27

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

How Abram must have thrilled to the fact that God spoke to him again! The years of “silence” must have taught him many deep lessons concerning faith in the Lord. As God spoke to him, Abram responded… the only way he knew how!

“Then Abram fell on his face…”

GENESIS 17:3a

He had not fared well after the last word that God spoke to him. God had specifically told him that his household servant would not be the appointed heir. He would have a son of his own. He had allowed himself to be persuaded by Sarai to marry Hagar. He knew better now. Was God giving him yet another chance to improve? Then this time round, he must listen harder! With abject humility, he bowed himself before El Shaddai, God Almighty!


A CHANGE OF NAME

The response of Abram was good and proper. Seeing Abram humbling himself, God continued with His word.

“And God talked with him, saying:
‘As for Me, behold My covenant is with you,
and you shall be a father of many nations.
No longer shall your name be called Abram,
but your name shall be called Abraham;
for I have made you a father of many nations.”

GENESIS 17:3b-5

1. Repeat Lesson

God had to repeat Himself for the most obvious reason! He knew that though Abram had accepted His word, there wasn’t that depth of faith or trust in what was promised! The lack of full trust in Abram was obvious to God! His marriage to Hagar for the purpose of producing an heir was evidence of his lack of full trust in El Shaddai! Thus God had to repeat Himself once again, concerning the covenant that He had given!

2. From Abram to Abraham

The giving of a person’s name has deep significance. Only a father can name his son. A stranger would not have this prerogative. God spoke to Abram as El Shaddai, God Almighty. He had every right to change Abram’s name to Abraham! He exercised that right! Abram had lived with his own personal name for 99 years! God wanted his name to be changed to Abraham. It might not seem like much – but the significance was not lost on Abram!

Through the new name, “Abraham”, God sought to reinforce faith. Each time his name, ‘Abraham’, was called, he would remember this moment when God spoke to him and assured him that he would be the “Father of many nations”! He must deepen his faith in El Shaddai! He is God Almighty! Surely, He is able to fulfill all that He had promised!