Genesis 17: 1-7, 15-16
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”
Abram fell facedown; and God said said to him,
“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.
“I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
God said to Abraham, ” As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”
A Thought
God appeared and spoke to Abram to walk blameless before him. As Abram fell facedown before the Lord, God continued to speak his covenant of promise. God changed his name to Abraham because he was to be the fruitful father of many nations with kings that come from his descendants for generations to come. God also changed Sarai’s name to Sarah because she in her old age would be blessed with a son and she would be the mother of many nations with kings of peoples coming from her.
Abraham had to keep his covenant with God that as the sign of promise between them every male, including Abraham, had to be obedient and to be circumcised. God was to bless them and to be their God.
Our Prayer
Father thank you for your covenant with Abraham and all his generations. You are faithful, loving God to Israel even after all the many generations. Thank you for not giving up on mankind. Forgive us along with Israel for not being an obedient generation of peoples. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
