The God Pause for Monday, 19 February 2018 - The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Genesis 17:1
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In the Bible, when someone's name is changed, it marks
a change in their life story, usually instigated by an
encounter with God. After wrestling with God, Jacob
becomes Israel (Gen 32). After encountering Jesus,
Saul becomes Paul (Acts 9). In this story, God makes
a covenant with Abram and Sarai and renames them
Abraham and Sarah. And the covenant is this: that in
their old age, they will have a son; that they will be the
ancestors to a great nation; and that God will "be God to
you and to your offspring after you" (17:7).
It is an astounding promise, and indeed, Abraham falls on
his face with laughter at the thought that he and Sarah
could have a child. But the God who makes that promise
is, as Paul later says, one "who gives life to the dead and
calls into existence the things that do not exist" (Rom
4:17).
In this Lenten season, we remember that it is that same
God who gives us life and calls us into existence through
baptism. In that gracious encounter, God has claimed us
and named us, too, with a new name: Christian.
God of new beginnings, be with us on our journeys as you
were with Abraham and Sarah and all our ancestors in thefaith. Amen.
Kathryn Schifferdecker
Associate Professor of Old Testament; Bible Division Chair Luther Seminary
Genesis 17:1 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.
2 And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous."
3 Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him,
4 "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations.
5 No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations.
6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.
7 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 God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her 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 give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her." (New Revised Standard Version)
When Avram was 99 years old Adonai appeared to Avram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai [God Almighty]. Walk in my presence and be pure-hearted. 2 I will make my covenant between me and you, and I will increase your numbers greatly.” 3 Avram fell on his face, and God continued speaking with him: 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: you will be the father of many nations. 5 Your name will no longer be Avram [exalted father], but your name will be Avraham [father of many], because I have made you the father of many nations. 6 I will cause you to be very fruitful. I will make nations of you, kings will descend from you.
(vii) 7 “I am establishing my covenant between me and you, along with your descendants after you, generation after generation, as an everlasting covenant, to be God for you and for your descendants after you.
15 God said to Avraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are not to call her Sarai [mockery]; her name is to be Sarah [princess]. 16 I will bless her; moreover, I will give you a son by her. Truly I will bless her: she will be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”
(Complete Jewish Bible.)In the Bible, when someone's name is changed, it marks
a change in their life story, usually instigated by an
encounter with God. After wrestling with God, Jacob
becomes Israel (Gen 32). After encountering Jesus,
Saul becomes Paul (Acts 9). In this story, God makes
a covenant with Abram and Sarai and renames them
Abraham and Sarah. And the covenant is this: that in
their old age, they will have a son; that they will be the
ancestors to a great nation; and that God will "be God to
you and to your offspring after you" (17:7).
It is an astounding promise, and indeed, Abraham falls on
his face with laughter at the thought that he and Sarah
could have a child. But the God who makes that promise
is, as Paul later says, one "who gives life to the dead and
calls into existence the things that do not exist" (Rom
4:17).
In this Lenten season, we remember that it is that same
God who gives us life and calls us into existence through
baptism. In that gracious encounter, God has claimed us
and named us, too, with a new name: Christian.
God of new beginnings, be with us on our journeys as you
were with Abraham and Sarah and all our ancestors in thefaith. Amen.
Kathryn Schifferdecker
Associate Professor of Old Testament; Bible Division Chair Luther Seminary
Genesis 17:1 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.
2 And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous."
3 Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him,
4 "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations.
5 No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations.
6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.
7 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 God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her 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 give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her." (New Revised Standard Version)
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The Luther Seminary
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