- Scripture: Genesis 17:1–17:27
- The Anchor: “God also 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 will surely give you a son by her…'” – Genesis 17:15–16
When Abram was 99 years old, God appeared to him because of the covenant they shared. We already know about the promises God made to him—that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars, that he would become a father of many nations, that his offspring would inherit the Promised Land, and that a son would carry on his direct lineage. This time, God appeared to give him hope and confidence in those promises. One way He did this was by changing Abram’s name to Abraham, which means “father of many nations” rather than just “exalted father.”
As a physical sign of this covenant, God established circumcision, which literally and physically separated Abraham’s people from the rest of the world. God also changed Sarai’s name to Sarah, which means “mother of nations,” and reiterated that the covenant would be fulfilled through a son born directly to her, rather than through Ishmael. Abraham fell facedown and laughed, wondering if a couple their age could really have a child, but God clarified that Sarah would indeed have a baby named Isaac, a name that means “he laughs.” Immediately after God left, Abraham obeyed and circumcised all the men in his household.
God made so many promises to Abraham, but as humans, it’s sometimes hard to believe someone when their promises don’t get completed quickly. If someone made me five major promises for the future without fulfilling any of them right away, it would be difficult to trust them. But God provided tangible signs of His covenant through the name changes, the circumcision, and the specific promise of Isaac.
When I first read this, Abraham’s laughter stood out to me as weird. But I believe Abraham wasn’t mocking God; he was laughing for joy at such amazing, mind-blowing news. This is most likely why God told them to name the baby Isaac.
Abraham was a really remarkable guy because he stayed calm and close to God, even when life wasn’t going perfectly and his promises weren’t being answered immediately. Really, the most important thing is consistency—whether or not you can stay consistent with prayer, QT, and your faith through both the mountains and the valleys. God’s love for us never fails, and He is the same yesterday, today, and always, so we can completely trust Him to keep His promises.
Reflection
- Abraham waited decades for God’s promises, showing that the ultimate test of faith is consistency through life’s mountains and valleys. How consistent is your personal spiritual routine—like your prayer time and QT—when you are in a “valley” versus when things are going great?
- God changed Abraham and Sarah’s names to remind them daily of who they were going to become in His grand plan. When you are hanging out with your friends, your youth group teens, or driving around listening to music, do you live with the identity of someone who belongs to God, or do you just blend into the crowd?
Prayer
Lord, thank You that You are the exact same yesterday, today, and always, and that Your promises never fail. Give me the grace to remain consistent in prayer and in Your Word, trusting You through every single mountain and valley. Thank You for the amazing community of friends You have placed in my life. Amen.