For two days now, our discussions were on how some people change their names thinking that the former name is reason for their constant setbacks in life or misfortunes. We were made to know that when names are changed without involving God, or without receiving instruction from God for change of the name, significant good results will not show forth in the new name. We will be looking at three persons God changed their names in the Bible and how their lives reflected the meaning of their names. These three people are selected based on the topic of our discussion. They are Abraham, Jacob and Peter. Today’s devotional is dedicated to Abram who was later known as Abraham.
Abraham earned his change of name through practical obedience to God. Right from the day of his first encounter with God till when he died he never disobeyed God. God called him and told him to leave his country and the kindred’s house and go to a place he would be shown later. Abram, as called then took off from Haran immediately as God instructed at age 75 years (Gen. 12: 1, 4). Abram and his immediate family members started walking about like wanderers. They got to Scheechem, moved to the East of Bethel, then to Egypt where they met famine. At 86 years old, Hagar gave birth to Ishmael for Abram. At 99 years God changed his name from Abram to Abraham (Gen. 17: 1 – 5). By the change of the name from Abram, meaning “High Father” (Father of Nations) to Abraham, meaning “Father of a multitude” Abraham was move to a higher position of global fatherhood. Today, the most populated religious organizations; Christianity and Islam accept Abraham is their father.
The beloved, it stands clear now that the change of the name of Abraham was orchestrated by obedience. Even after the change of the name, Abraham kept obeying God’s instructions. God asked him to send out Ishmael and his mother, he did. God told him to go and sacrifice Isaac to Him as burnt offering, he did. How many people are as this obedient to God these days? If absolute obedient to God allowed God changed Abram to Abraham; same obedient can make God change your name too. Abraham did not relate with God by “lip. service obedient” but with genuine obedience. Besides changing Abram’s name, God credited righteousness to Abraham for his great believe and obedience on Him (Gen. 15: 6; Rom. 4: 3). May this be your testimony today, in the name of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
FATHER LORD, I now realized that my belief and be obedience on you and to you are not enough, grant me grace to absolutely believe in you and obedient to you in the name of Jesus Christ.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch