“I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” (Genesis 17:1–2)
One of the hardest parts of faith is waiting—waiting on God’s promises, waiting for prayers to be answered, waiting for the unknown to unfold. Sometimes it feels like God is silent or slow, but He’s always working behind the scenes. Abraham’s story in Genesis 17 reminds us of this truth in a powerful way.
Imagine waiting twenty-five years for something God told you would happen. That’s exactly what Abraham did. He had believed that God’s promise of descendants was already being fulfilled through Ishmael. He loved Ishmael and likely assumed this was how the story would unfold. But then God appeared again with a bigger promise—and a new identity.
God introduced Himself as El Shaddai—God Almighty. It was a reminder that He is more than capable of doing the impossible. Then He changed Abram’s name to Abraham, shifting his entire identity. In ancient times, names reflected calling and purpose. “Abram,” which meant exalted father, became “Abraham,” meaning father of many nations. With every mention of his new name, Abraham was reminded of the promise, even though he hadn’t seen it come to pass yet.
Sarah’s name was also changed, showing that this covenant included her, too. The transformation wasn’t just about the promise—it was about becoming the kind of people who could carry it.
God also gave Abraham a sign of the covenant: circumcision. While circumcision already existed in some cultures, God redefined it as a spiritual marker—a sign of belonging. It wasn’t what made Abraham righteous, though. Paul later explains in Romans 4 that Abraham was counted as righteous by faith before any outward sign was ever given. That means God’s promises weren’t tied to Abraham’s perfection—they were tied to his trust.
Today, we don’t need physical signs to prove our relationship with God, but the principle remains: God calls His people to live set apart. He invites us to walk in faith, to trust Him even when it’s hard, and to say yes to who He says we are—even when we don’t feel like it yet.
One of the most memorable moments in this chapter is when Abraham laughs. When God tells him that Sarah will give birth at nearly 90 years old, it sounds ridiculous. But it’s not a laugh of unbelief—it’s wonder. Because sometimes God’s promises are so big, so wild, and so unexpected, that they’re almost unbelievable.
But God asks a question that still echoes today: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)
That question is for you, too. Are you waiting on God’s promises right now? Have you been holding onto hope for so long that it’s starting to feel unrealistic? The God who spoke galaxies into being is the same God who sees you. Nothing is too hard for Him—not even that thing you’ve been praying about for years.
Abraham’s journey wasn’t just about the promise of a child. It was about transformation—about stepping into a new identity and trusting that God’s timing was perfect. We see this theme over and over in Scripture. Jacob became Israel. Simon became Peter. Saul became Paul. God doesn’t just use us—He changes us.
Maybe today God is inviting you to let go of an old name—failure, unworthy, forgotten—and receive the one He’s already given you: loved, chosen, set apart, mine.
Abraham had to embrace that new identity before he ever saw the fulfillment of the promise. What if that’s true for you too?
Father, thank You for being faithful to Your promises. Help us to trust Your timing and walk in the identity You’ve given us. May we live in obedience and reflect Your faithfulness in everything we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
📖 Want to go deeper? Listen to the full podcast episode: Abraham’s New Name
