FROM ABRAM TO ABRAHAM

Passage: Genesis 17:1-8

Key verse: 5

NIV

The Covenant of Circumcision

17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old,(A) the Lord appeared to him(B) and said, “I am God Almighty[a];(C) walk before me faithfully and be blameless.(D) 2 Then I will make my covenant between me and you(E) and will greatly increase your numbers.”(F)

3 Abram fell facedown,(G) and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you:(H) You will be the father of many nations.(I) 5 No longer will you be called Abram[b]; your name will be Abraham,[c](J) for I have made you a father of many nations.(K) 6 I will make you very fruitful;(L) I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.(M) 7 I will establish my covenant(N) as an everlasting covenant(O) between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God(P) and the God of your descendants after you.(Q) 8 The whole land of Canaan,(R) where you now reside as a foreigner,(S) I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you;(T) and I will be their God.(U)”

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Genesis 17:1 Hebrew El-Shaddai
  2. Genesis 17:5 Abram means exalted father.
  3. Genesis 17:5 Abraham probably means father of many.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Abraham and the Covenant of Circumcision

17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty;[a] walk before me, and be (A)blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and (B)may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram (C)fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be (D)the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram,[b] but (E)your name shall be Abraham,[c] (F)for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make (G)you into nations, and (H)kings shall come from you. 7 And I will (I)establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, (J)to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And (K)I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and (L)I will be their God.”

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Genesis 17:1 Hebrew El Shaddai
  2. Genesis 17:5 Abram means exalted father
  3. Genesis 17:5 Abraham means father of a multitude
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Walk before God Almighty (1-3a)

After Ishmael's birth, thirteen years elapsed. Abram was busy being a good father to him. He thought that his 'no son' problem was solved. But he was living a compromised life, for his heart was not wholly committed to God. When the Lord appeared to him and reminded him that God is Almighty, and called him to walk before God, not before his wives and son, Abram fell facedown in repentance.

2. Your name will be called Abraham (3b-8)

Abram means, 'noble father,' Abraham means 'father of nations.' God had a great plan for Abram. He wanted him to be the father of faith for the whole world--not just the physical father of one son. The Eternal God wanted to make an everlasting covenant with him. God called Abraham and blessed him so that through his descendants all nations might be blessed. God's long-range plan was to send the Savior of the world through Abraham.

Prayer: Lord, help me to walk before you with an undivided heart, and be a blessing to the world.

One Word: To bless all nations