Genesis 17:1-8 – Honoring a Covenant-keeping God

This scene opens 13 years after the birth of Ishmael, and Abram was now 99 years old. Time had really passed for Abram, and the promise of God seemed illusive. But God is faithful. He never fails in a single promise He had made. As it was for Abram, so it will be for us. In this account God appeared to Abram. How He appeared to him we are not told but He did and He spoke to Abram. He first declared to him that He is the God Almighty, the El Shaddai, the most powerful One.  Abram was not dealing with any ordinary being but the most powerful One in the universe. And He commanded him to maintain two things: to walk before Him and to walk blamelessly. God wanted Abram to live life sincerely and with integrity. That’s how we all should walk too. To live truthfully and honestly, especially before God, to whom nothing is oblivious.

God then affirmed the covenant and the promise He had made with Abram. He assured him that he would increase greatly. He would be the father of many nations. And indeed Abram is the father of many, all over the nations. Where there are people who exercise faith in God, we have a child of Abram. That’s why the Apostle Paul in the letter of Galatians referred to him as our father in faith. Here when God emphasized this promise, Abram fell on his face with great humility before God, showing deep reverence and utter respect to One who alone deserves all honour and awe. What an attitude! God made a personal promise to Abram that he would be the father of many nations. It’s here that God changed his name. He was no longer to be called Abram, meaning exalted father. He would be called Abraham from henceforth. That was because he would be the father of many nations. What a name!

Name in the Biblical culture was significant. It still is today for us. For Abraham this is a new milestone in his life. He would be the father of many nations. From his son, his seed, many nations would come forth from him. God personally guaranteed it. God promised to make Abraham the father of many nations, and kings would come through him. Of the kings that came through Abraham’s line is Christ Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Through Him this promise to Abraham had literally come to pass. God then promised him and his descendants the land of Canaan as an inheritance.  

The call to Abraham to walk before God and to walk blamelessly is something that we must also take to heart. We must be conscious that we have an all-seeing God. Nothing is hidden form Him. It behoves us to live circumspectly, to be wise and truthful. Let’s live to honor God.