Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 (click to view Scripture below)
Today’s reading provides us a picture of a key theme of God’s redemptive plan. When God announces that Abram’s name would become Abraham, God was not just changing a person’s name. He was reshaping the future of Abraham and revealing eternal purposes that would begin to unfold from that point forward. This was not only true of Abraham, but for his wife Sarai, who now became Sarah.
The tragic world that so many children live in throughout Latin America and the Caribbean is filled with events and situations that rob children of their God breathed human dignity. A ChildHope school is like a neon sign that shines in the darkness and shows children that their name is not loser or stupid or victim. They are children made in the image of God with God-given dignity. They are valued by God so much that He sent his only Son to die for them. Just like Abram and Sarai, God’s declaration can give each child a new and hope-filled future.
Vice President, ChildHope
Prayer: Oh God, I am so grateful that you call me by my name and even now are filling my future with eternal life!
See other devotionals in this series.
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 (ESV)
1When 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, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.
15 And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”
See other devotionals in this series.
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.