God’s Covenant Promise to Abraham — Genesis 17 Daily Word

At ninety-nine, Abram receives God’s eternal covenant promise and is renamed Abraham, becoming the father of many nations. Discover how faith in God’s promises brings blessing across generations.

At the age of ninety-nine, Abram receives God’s covenant before the LORD. God Almighty appoints Abram as the father of many nations and changes his name to Abraham. This is an eternal covenant of blessing given to those who trust in God’s promises by faith.

Genesis 17:1-8 Daily Word

1. Scripture

[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] that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” [3] Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, [4] “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. [5] No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. [6] I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. [7] And 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. [8] And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.” (Gen 17:1-8, ESV)

2. Daily Word

# Because of this sin, the covenant God was to give Abram and Sarai is delayed by fourteen years.

Yet in the midst of this process, Hagar receives a blessing from God, because she cried out to Him in her suffering. The word God gave to Hagar was: “You have conceived and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has listened to your affliction.” And God also said, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.”

In fact, this word is similar to what was said to Mary 2,000 years later. [31] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. (Luke 1:31, ESV) Both Hagar and Mary obeyed the word of God, and through their obedience, countless descendants received blessing.

# Ishmael was born when Abram was 86 years old.

Thirteen years passed, and when Abram was 99 years old — that is, long after Ishmael’s birth, when all hope of having another child seemed gone and Abram had become a man well advanced in age — God came to him. God introduced Himself as “God Almighty.” The Hebrew expression used here is El Shaddai. As we saw earlier, Melchizedek referred to God as El Elyon, meaning “God Most High,” and Hagar called Him El Roi, meaning “the God who sees me.” Both El Elyon and El Roi are names used to give glory to God.

However, El Shaddai is a name used exclusively by the patriarchs when calling upon God on behalf of their descendants. *Why was this name invoked only for the sake of descendants? Because the One who causes descendants to multiply and flourish is God alone. Thus, El Shaddai carries the meaning of the God who makes the impossible possible — the “Sovereign Ruler of the universe.” It is this God who now speaks to Abram in verse 2, saying, “Walk before Me and be blameless.”

This means that because God is the Sovereign Ruler of the universe, it is indeed possible for Abram to make himself complete — that is, to be made pure and holy. This is the command to circumcise every male. If, in obedience to the word, one bears the sign of circumcision in the body, then knowing this by faith (v. 3), “I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”

So Abram fell on his face, and God said to him, “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.” “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.”

# This is the moment Abram’s name is changed to Abraham.

The original meaning of “Abram” is “exalted father,” but the name God gives him means “father of a multitude.” Therefore, the changing of Abram’s name signifies that he has entered into a new relationship with God. Not only Abram, but several figures throughout Scripture had their names changed. Simon became Peter, and Saul became Paul. And by the decree of a king, Daniel was renamed Belteshazzar (Dan 1:7). When God changes a name in this way, it is to call that person to live a life worthy of the new name they have been given.

# God Almighty — El Shaddai — is the One who sovereignly rules over all things.

When Adam named all the animals and plants, he was given dominion over everything in the Garden of Eden. In the same way, we must remember that God is the One who gives us our name and calls us to live according to it. And what He desires from us in particular is seen in how He required from Abram the faith expressed in circumcision, and when Abram obeyed, God gave him the name Abraham.

Therefore, the lesson we receive from this passage is that God calls us to make a decisive commitment — a circumcision of faith — to remain faithful within Him. When we are fully awake and alert before the Lord, we can trust that God governs every aspect of our lives. My hope and prayer is that today we would be people who rely on the Lord alone, and I invite you to pray together with that in mind.

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Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com