May the mumbling commence!
I love the hymn “I Will Change Your Name”. At our meeting place, we have the song in our supplement binder. Here are the lyrics:
I will change your name,
you shall no longer be called
wounded, outcast, lonely or afraid.
I will change your name,
your new name shall be
confidence, joyfulness, overcoming one,
faithfulness, friend of God,
one who seeks my face.
I love the meaning in the song. I could not help think about this song as I read Genesis chapter seventeen. This song would be particularly relevant for both Abram and Sarai. Read a couple of passages from that chapter below:
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to make you into a mighty nation."
At this, Abram fell face down in the dust.
Then God said to him, "This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of not just one nation, but a multitude of nations! What's more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram; now you will be known as Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. I will give you millions of descendants who will represent many nations. Kings will be among them!
I will continue this everlasting covenant between us, generation after generation. It will continue between me and your offspring forever. And I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. Yes, I will give all this land of Canaan to you and to your offspring forever. And I will be their God. (Verses 1-8)
Then God added, "Regarding Sarai, your wife – her name will no longer be Sarai; from now on you will call her Sarah. And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings will be among her descendants!"
Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. "How could I become a father at the age of one hundred?" he wondered. "Besides, Sarah is ninety; how could she have a baby?"
And Abraham said to God, "Yes, may Ishmael enjoy your special blessing!"
But God replied, "Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my everlasting covenant with him and his descendants. As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will cause him to multiply and become a great nation. Twelve princes will be among his descendants. But my covenant is with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year."
That ended the conversation, and God left Abraham. (Verses 15-22)
Both Abraham and Sarah were to be parents of a multitude of descendants. No longer would they feel wounded or outcast or lonely or afraid. From now on, they would have confidence and joyfulness because through the faithfulness of God they have overcome. Indeed Abraham and Sarah are friends of God.
So let’s choose to be friends of God as well. Let’s be careful where our treasure lies. Read from Matthew chapter six:
"Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.” (Verses 19-21)
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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