GENESIS 17:1-8
In the first Book of the Bible, Genesis 17, God gives Abram and believers some guarantees and assurances about their future. Genesis 17:1-2 says “When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.”
God wanted to confirm the promise He made to Abram about his future, even though he is not “blameless.” He was caught lying to save his skin in Genesis 14, and trying to force God’s hand in Genesis 16 and can therefore be described as been far from being “blameless”. God wants Abram to know without any doubt that His promises are still good. Despite the fact that Abram was 99 years old, and Sarai, his wife, was 89 years old, God wants to guarantee His promise that He will give Abram many descendants.
Genesis 17:3-5 reads “Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram (Exalted Father), but your name shall be Abraham (father of many) for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.”
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, God’s promises are everlasting and nothing will ever stop God from keeping His promises. God gives Abram a new name to guarantee that promise. God gives every believer a new name when we put our trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior. We were once known as “God’s enemies” (Romans 5:10), but now He calls us His “friends” (John 15:15). We were once known as “sinners,” but now God calls us “saints” (1 Corinthians 1:2).
Children of the Most High God, put your trust in Christ, yield to the Holy Spirit, be transformed into His holy image and enjoy a new name and a new life as God’s guarantee of a glorious new future with Him. Complete surrender brings a complete change of nature. Jacob becomes Israel a prince and prevailed. Saul became Paul. Gal 2:20 says “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
PRAYER POINT: My Father and my Lord, let me have an encounter with you and promote me to my destiny.