Last week we saw what happened when Abraham and Sarah became impatient with God and tried to circumvent His plan for their lives by bringing Hagar into the situation. The chapter ended with God's intervention and the submission of all parties involved. There is a thirteen year period of silence between chapters 16 & 17. Ishmael is now a teenager, and still, no promised seed. The last time God had spoken directly to Abraham was back in chapter 15, when God had made His covenant with Abraham, but for the next 23 years there is no direct communication recorded. Tonight we will see the silence broken. With the break in silence we will discover some new names.
I. A New Name for God = Almighty God. v1 -2
A. The Hebrew name is El Shaddai.
1. This the first of 48 times we find this name for God in the O.T.
2. It means the all-powerful and all-sufficient God…He can do anything and meet any need.
B. Why a new name for God?
1. After these many years of silence, God chooses to reveal Himself to Abraham as El Shaddai.
2. Now when Abraham and Sarah are "as good as dead", God assures him that He is sufficient to bring about the birth of the promised seed.
3. The Lord wanted Abraham to know that He is the God who is all sufficient and all powerful, and that nothing is too hard for Him.
C. God reaffirms His covenant with Abraham.
1. The phrase "I Will" is used over and over in this chapter.
2. "My covenant" is used at least nine times.
3. God had not changed His mind about what He was going to do with Abraham.
4. Although Abraham might have wondered about it because of the years of silence, God had not changed His purpose.
II. A New Name for Abram = Abraham v3-14
A. The name 'Abraham' means 'the father of a multitude'. v3-6
1. Now whenever Abraham looked down to the ground, up to the sky, or heard someone call him by name...
2. He would be reminded of God's gracious promise to give him many descendants.
3. This was still a promise and not a reality
4. At this time, still no son! But he kept getting older…now he was 99 years of age.
B. An everlasting covenant and an everlasting possession. v7-8
1. God's promise would be to Abraham and to his seed that would come after him.
2. Along with this promise would be the possession of the land of Canaan forever.
3. This is the same promise Abraham received before, but each time God gives additional information.
4. Although God knows the end from the beginning, He doesn't always reveal everything to us right away.
5. But one day we will know…one day our understanding will be complete.
C. A covenant sign = circumcision. v9-14
1. There was no mystical or spiritual benefit to be gained by this rite.
2. It was merely "a token of the covenant"... a sign of obedience.
3. Unfortunately, the Jews would later make this ritual a means of salvation.
4. They did not realize that circumcision stood for a person's relationship to God.
5. Many people today place the same false confidence in baptism, communion, and other rites.
6. Abraham immediately obeyed God. Note: v23-27
III. A New Name for Sarai = Sarah v15-17
A. Sarah means "princess of the multitudes".
1. This would be a fitting name for the mother of kings.
2. She would be the mother of the Jewish nation.
3. The significance of the changing of Sarai to Sarah is to mark the occasion.
B. Sarah was to be the mother of the promised seed.
1. There would be no more scheming and calculating plans to 'help God out'
2. It was clear that Sarah was to be the mother; no more Hagars and no more substitutes.
3. At this point, Abraham laughs.
4. His laughter is an expression of doubt as he tries to match his faith to his circumstances.
5. He prays that Ishmael might be accepted of God.
6. Ishmael was to be the source of a great nation as well (16:10) but he was not the one that God had chosen.
IV. A New Name for the Promised Seed: Isaac.
A. He is named by God. v18-22
1. Isaac means 'laughter' I suppose God has a sense of humor doesn't He?
a. It seems every time He mentions that Abraham and Sarah were to have a child the response was laughter…
b. Can you see it? A 100 year old man pushing a baby carriage…or 90 year old woman chasing after a toddler?
2. He is the second child born that was named before his birth.
3. These two births represent:
a. Ishmael = the birth of the flesh (wild man)
b. Isaac = the birth of the spirit (joy and laughter)
B. God would bless Ishmael, but His covenant would be with Isaac.
1. Ishmael was man's choice and the result of man's thinking and planning.
2. Isaac was God's choice and the result of the work of God!
New names because God was getting ready to do something brand new! In a year, God would bring to pass all that He had promised to Abraham. No new name for Ishmael, because he was outside the covenant of promise. God was going to do something wonderful, and man's efforts were to play no part.
The same is true with salvation. God does something wonderful apart from the work of man, that He alone might receive the glory for it. We sing the hymn, 'A New Name in Glory'.
I was once a sinner, but I came pardon to receive from my Lord… This was freely given, and I found that He always kept His Word…. There's a new name written down in glory and it's mine... O yes it's mine… And the white-robed angels sing the story a sinner has come home!
(Revelation 3:11-12) Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.