However, does the Bible reveal Gods intention for choosing Abraham to be the Father of Israel and all the nations? 3) God would keep His covenant with Abrahams descendants. Additionally, God promised Abram that He would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4) and accordingly changed his name to Abraham (Avraham in Hebrew). 4. 12-5: God commands Abraham to SEPARATE from his family, 12-4: History of covenant making in the ancient Middle East, 12-3: The true nature of a Biblical covenant, 12-1: God called Abraham before he settled in Haran. With respect to the fulfillment of the promise, Sarah embodies the themes of fear and doubt, Abraham those of faith and hope. The new and everlasting covenant that God established with Adam, Abraham, and us today has always centered on posterity and our potential for eternal increase. Abrahams token of circumcision reminded him of how the fruit of his loins would bless the nations. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her . [Genesis 17:15-16 ESV] Madeline Kalu is a Christian writer and the co-founder ofJacobs Ladder Blog. When they laughed at Gods promise to give them a child in their old age? The connections between ancestors and descendants connect us to God in a welding link. Abrahams name change was quite significant. Because there was a harsh famine in the land of Canaan, Abraham and Sarah traveled south to Egypt. When God told Abraham that he would soon have a son, Abraham laughed. Why did He need to make a covenant with Abraham? How are you responding? Sarahs token of Isaac similarly was a memorial to her about her role in being the mother of many nations. Jasmin Gimenez Rappleye, New Names in the Latter-day Saint Temple Initiatory, Temple Light blog (May 30, 2021). We get it. Your email address will not be published. But Jehovah renamed him Abraham, which means Father of a Multitude. And now, for the first time, Jehovah showed where Sarah fit into the picture. In fact, the idiom for making a covenant in Hebrew is carat berit ( ) or literally to cut a covenant, because covenants frequently involved some form of cutting or sacrificing.5 In Genesis 15, Abraham severed animals in a sacrifice to the Lord, and then here in Genesis 17, he had a perpetual reminder of his personal relationship with God through circumcision. Abram's name is changed by the Lord to Abraham and Sarai's name is changed by the Lord to Sarah. Abraham followed Gods instructions. Our feeling nature when this occurs, then changes from a burden or a liability in our growth Sarai into a lovely asset in our growth, Sarah. This name change took place when God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. Am I able to trust Him for the impossible? 1. Privacy Policy FAQ Will we still love our husbands and wives after death? by Bible Blender, Complete but concise summary of each book of the Bible (Old Testament and New Testament), Chronological summary of the New Testament Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John timeline), Abraham gets a new name (Genesis 17:1 17:27), Hagar and the birth of Ishmael Hagar flees Abrahams home and is instructed to return (Genesis 16:1 16:16), Joseph mourns his fathers death, reassures his brothers they are safe, then passes from earth (Genesis 50:1 50:26), Jacob blesses the Twelve Tribes before breathing his last (Genesis 49:1 49:33), Jacob blesses Josephs sons and places Ephraim before firstborn Manasseh (Genesis 47:28 48:22). 0:00. Christian Truth. What do the names of God mean? Related Topics: Faith, Curriculum, Character of God, Janene Keeth (nicknamed "Crickett") holds a M.A. Note: Those who study Ed Rabel's 1975 Commentaries on the Old Testament and his 1976 Commentaries on the New Testament often wonder about the source of his esoteric Bible interpretations. When God makes a promise, He is true to His word. A marriage is another covenant and an example where names are exchanged, depending on the culture. The name exchange signifies that a covenant was Which of the promises made to Abraham did he see fulfilled before he died? What do Abrahams questions and responses in this chapter reveal about what was going on in his mind and heart? 11-4: Nimrod foreshadows the future anti-Christ, 11-3: The Christian trinity had its origins in Nimrod, 11-2: How the Day of Pentecost is connected to the Tower of Babel, 11-1: The Tower of Babel is the story of anti-God imperialistic ambition, 1S2-10: Miryams Prayer After She Conceived By The Holy Spirit Was Patterned After Hannahs Prayer. 8 The land of Canaan is the fifth time promised. degrees -- one in Medical Technology and the other in Perfusion Technology. But Jehovah appears to Abraham as three-fold being: "God is perceived by man as Father, Son, Holy Spirit, or Mind, Idea and Expression. In ancient religions, the sounding of "Ha" always stood for a greater infilling of spirituality. 2 I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers., 3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. Then GOD poses the question, Is At an old age, and childless, it took great faith to tell your friends and family that your new name meant father of many. Is God leading you to step out in faith today in a specific area? Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. God promised Abraham he would have children as decendents, and Sarah would have a son and they were to name him Isaac. It was where GOD has promised Abraham and Sarah, whoms names he changed from Abram and Sarai, that he was going to bless them with a child and they By possessing no imperfections? 8-3: The Significance Of The Raven And Dove That Noah Sent Out. 12 Circumcision instituted. Not perfection estate which I've got to reach, but in Ed Rabel our goal is eternal self-improvement in the direction, not in the estate but in the movement. She was born in England, was raised in Australia, and currently lives in Germany with her husband Solomon. It doesn't matter whether it's a male or female person we're dealing with, it's the female part of our nature which can undergo this lovely change. Why Was Jesus Proclaimed the Son of God at His Baptism? Pope Francis Issues Call for Peace on Anniversary of Russias Invasion of Ukraine. Sarah, also spelled Sarai, in the Old Testament, wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. Circumcision, which was already practice in ancient near eastern countries, was simply an outward symbol of the covenant between God and man. He is also recognized as the patriarch of the three monotheistic or Abrahamic religions Christianity, Judaism, and Islam the latter deriving through his firstborn son, Ishmael. Meditate on one of the verses under Looking Deeper. Because Sarah believed God was faithful, she gave birth to a son well past her childbearing years. 13-2: God promises Abram and his descendants the Land of Canaan forever! 7. What Is the Meaning of Psalm 91 and Why Is it Popular? When God calls us to step out in faith and follow Him into unknown and 14-2: The Bible you own is NOT the original Scriptures, 14-1: Abram's nephew Lot is taken hostage, 13-3: Abram marks his territory by performing CHAZAKAH. Abraham had another Did Abraham completely obey God or not? THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL About Us, Bible Blender Why Did Pahoran, Paanchi, and Pacumeni have Such Similar Sounding Names. Why Did Pharaoh Tell Joseph to Enjoy the 'Fat of the Land'? After God changed Abrams name to Abraham, it must have been difficult for Abraham to tell everyone that his new name. This is a series of lectures given by Mr. Edward Rabel, member of the faculty of S.M.R.S. Give me a willing heart to step out in faith and trust You. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. Jesus reveals Gods greatest commandment(s) (Matthew 22:34 22:40). God also told Abraham that Sarais name would be changed to Sarah and foretold that he would bless Sarah and she would have a son. Nita and I have segmented the lectures into the topics as Ed presented them and the links to those segments are to the left. We build enduring faith in Jesus Christ by making the Book of Mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. Because Abraham believed God was faithful to His promises, he stepped out in faith and followed Gods leading. How have you tried taking things into your own hands when youve had trouble waiting on Gods timing? Do ye likewise, be thou perfect, is what Jesus says in Luke. Topic 30: Sarai, representing our emotional nature, undergoes a drastic change and becomes Sarah. (D&C 132:1920). laughed at such an unlikely thing. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. How has obedience to God been costly in your life? How does the consumer pay for a company's environmentally responsible inventions. Joseph Smith taught that the purpose of the sealing covenant was to forge a welding link, connecting our posterity and our ancestors in an unbroken chain back to God (D&C 128:18). Ivy and Pearl Boutique have these stylish faith-based face masks that let you protect others while telling the world you still have faith. It doesn't matter whether it's a male or female person we're dealing with, it's the female part of our nature which can undergo this lovely change. Burleson, TX 76028. She's become a nicer gal. God cemented the deal when he told Abram that he would no longer be called Abram but henceforth, would be called Abraham, a new name that was fitting. Genesis 15:6 tells us that Then he believed in the LORD; And He reckoned it to him as righteousness. Was this the point of salvation for Abraham? Although the Bible explains little of his life up until the age of 70,Joshua 24:2 reveals that Abraham resided in Mesopotamia where his father Terah was engaged in polytheism. God told Abraham that every male should be circumcised. When attending the temple, whether its the first time or the hundredth time, consider pondering ways in which temple symbols help you to memorialize the promises youve made with God. In the New Testament, Simons name was changed to Peter. "The Lord says to Abram, I am the Almighty God, walk before me and be thou perfect." Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/Inner_Vision. What did God specifically tell Abraham to do? 'Abram' means "exalted father" . God tells him that he will be the father of many, and changes his name to 'Abraham' which means "father of a mul Isaac.--This name not only recorded the fact of the laughter of the father (Genesis 17:17) and of the mother (Genesis 18:12), but was a standing memorial that Isaac's birth was contrary to nature, and one of which the promise was provocative of ridicule in the sight even of his parents. God made a covenant with Abraham. They are from the writings of Maurice Nicoll, a student of Carl Jung, George Gurdjieff and PD Ouspensky. Why do you think God included them in the chapter of men and women of faith (Hebrews 11)? InGenesis 17, God again appeared before Abram and made a covenant with him, which He would abide by with Abrahams posterity. Donald W. Parry (Salt Lake City and Provo, UT: FARMS and Deseret Book, 1994), 272294. What Is the Significance of Not the Letter but of the Spirit? unfamiliar territory, it requires us to trust Him one step at a time. Lets begin by looking at Abrahams background: Where did Terah and his family set out to go? Whom and what did Abraham take with him? Web1599 Geneva Bible. 4) God would give the land of Canaan to Abrahams descendants. It represented them becoming something new. Eternal increase is at the center of the new and everlasting covenant. Get the latest updates on Book of Mormon topics and research for free. In the Bible, a name was not just a means of identification, it expressed ones true nature and their role in life. My prayer for you as you study the lives of Abraham and Sarah is that you would give your complete heart to God. Topic 29: Producing a son symbolizes the development of a new, added dimension of spiritual awareness [but the process of spiritual growth can't be forced by willfulness, else we get Ishmael, born out of divine order and who] "becomes the founder of a whole line of troublemakers for the Jewish people.". Thirdly, the popular view does not account for why, in verse 15, God also changed the name of Abrams wife Sarai () to Sarah (). Why was Abraham considered to be an alien or foreigner in the land of promise? Why do we doubt? I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her., 17 Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? What does his response indicate about his faith? Could California be on the verge of a Christian revival? How can an impossibility be true? Why did God choose to bless a mere man with multitudes of descendants, who would in turn also be blessed? The Lord didnt drastically alter the meaning of Abrahams and Sarahs names. Then you'll get your answer. 16-1: Sarai commissions her slavegirl to sleep with Abram, 15-5: God shows Abram the future in a prophetic dream, 15-4: Abram wards off an attack from the devil, 15-3: God enters into an UNCONDITIONAL covenant with Abram, 15-2: The importance of having a son in the ancient Middle East, 14-5: Abram's encounter with the King of Sodom foreshadows Yeshua's wilderness temptation. 15 Sarai is named 3. If so, why does his faith continue to waver? I have a little support here, "Walk before me and be thou perfect". Both Abram and Abraham are related to the Hebrew roots meaning father and exalted. Its possible that Abraham is related to the Hebrew ab (, father) and hamon (), meaning multitude.1 Both Sarai and Sarah are related to the Hebrew root meaning princess.2 However, the act of their receiving a new name symbolized their drastically new identity and relationship with God. In addition to receiving a new name, the Lord established a token or sign of the covenant by requiring all covenant males to be circumcised: And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. God changed Abrams name to Abraham father of a multitude. Still childless, Abram and Sarai were getting old when God reiterated his promise to Abram that he would be the father of many nations. 'Sarai' means "princess", but since she Abrahams new name would forever be a reminder of Gods promise to Abraham. He is the father of us all (Romans 4:16). Youre busy. What does God promise Abraham in verses 14-17? God sharpens His promise: 1) He would give Abram many descendants. What do you learn about Sarah from this passage? The promise of many descendants (Genesis 17:2,3)The promise of inheriting the land of Canaan (17:8)God will be the God of Abraham (17:7, 17:8).Abraham and Sarah will have a son (17:15-16), whom they will name Isaac (17:19) and who will be the continuation of God's covenant with Abraham (17:21).. Genesis 18:14. bless them with a child and they are wondering how. He was the root of mans redemption, through which the genealogy of Jesus Christ would be established. Is there something you have given up hope of happening? The impossible situations in life cause us to exercise our faith. Now, for all of us, our job is to figure it out, how is it possible? 1. ( Genesis 17:15) Jacob Israel: supplanter he who has the power of God. Abraham had faith and did as God told him. Help me trust You even when I cannot understand what You are doing. Before the Fall in the Genesis account, she was called Woman. After she partook of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, she was named Eve, the mother of all living.3, When pharaohs in Egypt were elevated to power, they were given a new, full cartouche. After college (the first time), Crickett was on staff with C More. anything too hard for the Lord? Abram meant exalted father or high father. 2. It's a very helpful site. From now on her name will be Sarah. 2. Sign up for the Bible Blender newsletter and receive the latest on science and tech news, new product notifications, exclusive features, and more. The content included here is a rough draft verbatim transcript of notes taken. You'll end up with the old answer - she can't. Father of a Multitude. 1. WebAbram's name is changed by the Lord to Abraham and Sarai's name is changed by the Lord to Sarah. Abraham was 100 and Sarah was It Is So Painful to Care: How Do I Conquer Apathy? 5 5.Why Did Abram and Sarai Have a Name Change? 23 On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him. As Abraham reached for his knife to slay his son, God stopped him and reiterated His promise that his progeny would be many and that through them, all the nations on earth would be blessed (Genesis 22:16-18). What is your response. 2. The Doctrine and Covenants taught that, If a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenantYe shall come forth in the first resurrectionand shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depthsin time, and through all eternity Then shall they be gods, because they have no end. Lecture given on October 3, 1975. ( Genesis 17:5) Sarai Sarah: my princess mother of nations. A new sound is inserted into his name and it is significant that that name, the new sound is "Ha". Why was Sarahs idea to give Hagar to Abraham wrong when it was acceptable according to the custom of that time? Some scholars find more than coincidence in the letter H that was added to both Abram and Sarais names. 19-5: Lot offers up his daughters to a gang of rapists-SAY WHAT??!! God promised Abraham that she would be a mother of nations (Genesis 17:16) and that she would conceive and bear a son, but Bruce H. Porter and Stephen D. Ricks, Names in Antiquity: Old, New, and Hidden, in By Study and Also By Faith: Essays in Honor of Hugh W. Nibley (Salt Lake City, FARMS, 1990). A new sound is inserted into his name and it is significant that that name, the new sound is "Ha".