HAVE I GOT A COVENANT FOR YOU (1 OF 7)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: Genesis 12:1-8
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Have I Got A Covenant For You (1 of 7)
The Father Figure
Jeff Strite
Genesis 12:1-9
OPEN: A mother was read a Bible story about Abraham to her 5-year-old daughter. when she finished, she started asking her a few questions about it. ''What was Abraham's name before God changed it?'' She looked puzzled for a moment... then smiled as she asked, ''Lincoln?'' (Annelle Maurer, Loma Linda, CA. Today's Christian Woman, ''Heart to Heart.'')
God changed Abraham's name?
Well... yeah.
In our story today, we see that Abraham's name had ONCE been Abram. Abram means ''exalted Father'' and Abraham means ''Father of a multitude.''
But why would God do that? Why change this man's name?
Well God seems to do that a lot in Scripture especially when He's making a major change in the person's life. For example, Jacob became Israel; Simon was renamed Peter; and Saul was transformed into Paul. And of course, in Revelation 2:17 God promises us ''To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.'' Even we can get a new name.
In each of those people's lives (Jacob, Simon and Saul) there was something like a rebirth that took place. They became different men than when they had their old names.
So what became different about Abraham? What did God DO with him?
Well Abraham was once just a normal guy. He was a shepherd and a husband and he tried to live a life pleasing to God. But then, one day God says ''I want to do something special with you. I want to make a covenant (or contract) with you. And that's what this Genesis 12 passage is all about. God introduces Himself to Abraham... and then He makes a promise. ''I want you to leave your home and your kinfolk... and go to a land I'll show you. And I'll make you into a great nation; I'll bless you and make your name great; I'll make you into a blessing for others; if others bless you, I ...
The Father Figure
Jeff Strite
Genesis 12:1-9
OPEN: A mother was read a Bible story about Abraham to her 5-year-old daughter. when she finished, she started asking her a few questions about it. ''What was Abraham's name before God changed it?'' She looked puzzled for a moment... then smiled as she asked, ''Lincoln?'' (Annelle Maurer, Loma Linda, CA. Today's Christian Woman, ''Heart to Heart.'')
God changed Abraham's name?
Well... yeah.
In our story today, we see that Abraham's name had ONCE been Abram. Abram means ''exalted Father'' and Abraham means ''Father of a multitude.''
But why would God do that? Why change this man's name?
Well God seems to do that a lot in Scripture especially when He's making a major change in the person's life. For example, Jacob became Israel; Simon was renamed Peter; and Saul was transformed into Paul. And of course, in Revelation 2:17 God promises us ''To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.'' Even we can get a new name.
In each of those people's lives (Jacob, Simon and Saul) there was something like a rebirth that took place. They became different men than when they had their old names.
So what became different about Abraham? What did God DO with him?
Well Abraham was once just a normal guy. He was a shepherd and a husband and he tried to live a life pleasing to God. But then, one day God says ''I want to do something special with you. I want to make a covenant (or contract) with you. And that's what this Genesis 12 passage is all about. God introduces Himself to Abraham... and then He makes a promise. ''I want you to leave your home and your kinfolk... and go to a land I'll show you. And I'll make you into a great nation; I'll bless you and make your name great; I'll make you into a blessing for others; if others bless you, I ...
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