READ: Gen. 17:1-8: … ‘I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, … and you shall be a father of many nations. … your name shall be Abraham; … And I will establish My covenant … for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. …’
God confirms His covenant 13 years after the birth of Ishmael (Gen. 16). Ishmael, as the child of Hagar, is not the promised offspring. Meanwhile, Abram is 99 years old (v.1). Rom. 4:18ff provide additional information, stating that Abram, against all odds, hopes and believes that he will become the father of many nations according to the promise of the LORD.
He is not weakened in faith, even though he is almost a hundred years old and Sarah’s womb is no longer capable of bearing children. He does not doubt God’s promise due to unbelief. Nevertheless, God strengthens his faith. He reveals Himself here specifically as “God Almighty!” He is going to perform a miracle in Abram and Sarah, who are advanced in age. In that alone, Abram can strengthen his faith.
When God reminds Abram of His covenant, He also calls him to walk uprightly before His presence. This is God’s covenant requirement that He connects to His covenant promise, even though that promise has not yet been fulfilled. Thus, God’s covenant becomes a two-sided covenant here. Then God strengthens His covenant promise by changing Abram’s name to Abraham: father of a multitude of nations. This promise pertains to the Church from all nations, of which Abraham is the father. In Gen. 12:3, it was already promised that in him (in his son Jesus Christ, Matt. 1:1), all the nations of the earth would be blessed.
Furthermore, the LORD says even more: He gives Himself in His covenant to Abraham and his descendants and makes His covenant an everlasting covenant. Here, everlasting means unlimited in time and extent. The Almighty and faithful God gives Himself to Abraham and his offspring (from all nations) for generations to come. The possession of Canaan is also everlasting when we extend it to the heavenly, eternal Canaan.
Does Abraham’s promise still apply today?
Singing: Ps. 105:5