This chapter was one of the most challenging I’ve ever written. There was so much I wanted to express, yet I didn’t know how. I wrestled with it for days, facing serious writer’s block. God knew I needed that struggle. I am deeply grateful for what I have learned through it. Some of those lessons are shared below.
Abram is ninety-nine years old and has still not received the child of promise. The desert stretches wide and silent around him. Then God appears, calling Abram into a covenant that will shape generations. Everything he has known is about to shift, though he does not yet see how.
✨ God Reveals Himself
“I am El-Shaddai—God Almighty. Walk before me faithfully and be blameless.” — Genesis 17:1
Before the promises, God gave His name. El-Shaddai, Almighty, all-sufficient. Abram’s heart was anchored first in who God is, not in what God would do. Then the impossible promise followed: he would be the father of many nations, and kings would come from him.
Abram fell facedown. His name was changed to Abraham, father of many nations. The new name stood as a living reminder of the covenant. Every time he heard it, he would remember God’s word and God’s power.
✂️ The Sign of the Covenant
God set apart circumcision as the sign of His covenant. Every male, whether born in Abraham’s household or bought with money, was to bear this mark. To refuse it was to reject the covenant itself.
Abraham did not wait. That very day, he and Ishmael, along with every male in his household, were circumcised. It was not empty ritual. It was obedience carved into flesh; a lasting testimony of trust in God’s word.
👑 Promise Through Sarah
God also spoke of Sarai. Her name would no longer be Sarai, but Sarah which means princess. She too would be blessed. She would bear a son, and from her would come nations and kings.
Abraham laughed. Could a child be born to a man of ninety-nine and a woman of ninety? His thoughts turned to Ishmael; surely the promise could rest on him. But God’s plan was clear. Sarah would give birth to Isaac, and through Isaac the everlasting covenant would continue.
Even so, Ishmael would not be forgotten. God promised to bless him and make him into a great nation. Yet the covenant itself belonged to Isaac, who would be born within the year.
🌿 Takeaway
Here God revealed Himself as El-Shaddai, Almighty, all-sufficient, and faithful. Abraham and Sarah were asked to trust, while God carried the weight of the promise. Their role was obedience, and His role was fulfillment.
Abraham did not delay. He acted that very day. We too are called to step forward in faith, even when the promise feels beyond reach. God’s word never fails; His timing is perfect; His plans exceed anything we can imagine.
🌸 Your Turn
God’s promises always stand, even when they seem impossible. Like Abraham and Sarah, we may not see the full picture, but we can rest in His faithfulness and walk in obedience.
Where is God calling you to trust Him with what feels impossible? How can you anchor your heart in who He is before the promise is fulfilled? What step of obedience is He asking you to take today, without delay?