Arriving To Continue

A New Covenant – A New You

On this final day of the shared week, a week shared with ending and beginning, death and life, completion and continuation, we come as we are, to receive what the Lord knows we need. Having received God’s Powerful and All-knowing Wisdom, in His decision to effect this name change, from Abram to Abraham, in our father of faith, we too receive. We confidently go on in the sure knowledge that we who believe, have been included in this and the other changes also. We now continue as promised, to examine this three-change work. Here are the final two changes.

There is a change:-

From Exalted to Extravagant - For I have made you a father of many nations. Genesis 17: 5b. In the name Abraham, there is added meaning. Already noted is the fact that Abram means exalted father, and God does not remove this first meaning. He has meaning added. Now Abraham means father of many. Think of it! He is now exalted father of many. Now Abraham will be the father of generations upon generations. Are you seeing the extravagance of God? He, God, makes this covenant to last, so the descendants of Abraham will be as the sands on the shore, too numerous to count. If that is not God’s extravagance, then I don’t know what is. And here is more! The promise includes you and me, as descendants of Abraham. I say no more.

But what does God add? The Lord adds “ha” to Abram’s name. Yes, it seems like a big, stupid joke. God is doing His miraculous, heavenly, holy work in a human being, and all He puts into the name is a “ha”! For this man of faith, the “ha” is one simple word, the exclamation that comes from, surprise, excitement, mystery and suspicion even. Yet it is in this one little syllable, that the nature of God is literally placed in Abraham. Oh the wonder and mystery of God. Do you believe this? I do!

From Barren to Bountiful - I will make you very fruitful, I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. Genesis 17: 6. This is self-explanatory you say, but I want to remind you that at this time, Abraham is very old and has no child, no fruit with his wife. Never forget that this promise, this covenant, was made when Abram did not even have one child with Sarai. Listen, he was as a barren man and he was getting older and older. I tell you, all the odds were against him at this point. It is to such a one, that this promise is made. This is not just the Lord’s extravagant hand, it is the Lord’s bountiful heart. What is there too difficult for your God to do? As barren as you may be, barren in word, barren in beauty, barren in power, barren in self-confidence, barren in making it, anything and everything, as you walk the path, the Lord wishes more for you. Know, it is to such as you, that the Sovereign, Creator, Lord, gives bounty. Do you believe this? I do!

On this ending of a mixed week, know this word of covenant. Just as God made this new covenant and brought it all to Abraham, will you not see the same with you? It is God, not you, who initiated this covenant. It is His desire, His will, not yours, that you be lifted and receive of His bounty. He is God, therefore He is able to add to what you have, and who you are. Not for me, you say, not for me. Yes for you, I say, yes for you. Why not believe that the Lord still does what seems impossible to you?

May you be moved to believe! Amen!