A Covenant with God

Jann Martin March 12, 2006

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Genesis 17: 1-7, 15 - 16

Bible Lesson

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. ² I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to make you into a mighty nation." ³ At this, Abram fell face down in the dust. Then God said to him, ⁴ "This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of not just one nation, but a multitude of nations! ⁵ 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. ⁶ I will give you millions of descendants who will represent many nations. Kings will be among them! ⁷ "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. ⁸ Yes, I will give all this land of Canaan to you and to your offspring forever. And I will be their God. ¹⁵ Then God added, "Regarding Sarai, your wife-her name will no longer be Sarai; from now on you will call her Sarah ¹⁶ 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!" Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

When Abram was 99 years old, God initiated a covenant with him. God came to him and promised him that his descendants would be many. Also, that this covenant would go into the distant future with many descendants and cover a multitude of nations. After hearing this news from God, Abram fell face down into the dust. Can you imagine what he must have been thinking? Did he fall down in unbelief or in awe and praise for what God had just told him? Maybe it was a little bit of both.

At 99 years old Abram probably figured that his son Ishmael, by Sarai's servant Hagar, would be his only offspring. He probably had a hard time believing that he understood God correctly when He said that he would be a father of multitudes. He may have thought he just hadn't understood God and His plans.

And Sarai at age 90 laughed when she heard she was going to have a baby at this late time in her life. Here they were ready to slow down and retire and are told they are just beginning their family. I am 55 and I couldn't even imagine having another child. I sure hope it's not in God's plan for me to have another one.

Here Abram and Sarai were what they think is the end of their lives, and God gave them a promise that their offspring will take part in God's redemption of the world. God changed his name from Abram, which means, "exalted father," to Abraham, which means "father of many." He also changed Sarai's name to Sarah, which means "princess." This also must have been difficult for them: to change their names at such old ages while facing something they have awaited for a lifetime. The name God gave their son is Isaac, which means "laughter." How fitting this name is; they laughed in disbelief and gratitude to the Lord for giving them such a wonderful gift. This was also a great testimony of their faith, to believe that God could and would do this for them. In return, they were to teach Isaac about God so he could pass along to his descendants the love, caring, stories, concern and laughter of God.

In George Valiant's book called "Successful Aging," he builds on the Harvard University study on aging. In it, he talks about a study on life cycles, where people have been interviewed at different times in their lives. Valiant lists the "factors that seem to characterize successful aging - good relationships with children and grandchildren, good health, a positive attitude toward health concerns and humor." People who age well do so with a sense of humor. They are able to face the predictable trials and tribulations of aging with a smile - the aches and pains, the grief and sorrows that move many to tears.

"A smile is evidence of someone who has learned not only to take the pain of life with a grain of salt, but also someone who has learned to look upon life with the eyes of faith." ¹

Maybe as we grow older we can face life's trials with more laughter. We have been through challenges and realize that, with a strong faith in God we can handle whatever comes our way, even at the age of 90.

In the commentary I used while writing a sermon, I found the following paragraph and wanted to share it with you: "The text enacts a transformation in which subsequent hearers participate. Those barren at the beginning are fruitful at the end. Those abandoned have become cared for. Those displaced have become royal. Those alone have come to covenant. The text enacts a wholly new future, unutterable and impossible at the outset. The text gives, at each hearing, a future from God that this family could never devise for itself."² Hearing this I can trust my faith in God, that He will bless my life and all of my descendants as well.

I like the saying, "Where God guides, God provides." This became especially meaningful to me when I finally heard God's call and started my classes to go into ministry. I knew my heart was in serving and in a lot of that was within the church. I just wasn't sure I was capable of serving in ministry. Several family members and friends encouraged me to begin taking classes. One friend gave me a card with the saying, "Where God guides, God provides." I took this phrase as a message from God to do my part and let Him take care of the rest. What I thought were obstacles seemed to melt away, and everything fell into place.

We have a picture of the laughing Christ on the wall as you enter our home. I love to look at that picture of Him and wonder what else He has in store for me. As I look at it, I imagine Him telling each of us to relax, trust Him, laugh with Him and let Him guide us on our path to Him.

Amen.

©Jann Martin 2006