This Sunday, February 23 (9am, 10:45am), we will have a special Sunday with Walt Heyer and Dr. Jennifer Bauwens on the topic of Embracing God's Design.
This week we will explore Genesis 17:1-27, Names According to God.
What is your name? How did you get it? What does it mean?
We all have names...and stories behind our names. Sometimes we like them, sometimes we don't.
In Genesis 17, God changes Abram and Sarai's names. Linguistically it is not a big change. Abram and Abraham are pretty close in meaning, so are Sarai and Sarah. But there is a world of difference in the significance.
Abram and Sarai are names given to them by their earthly fathers.
Abraham and Sarah are names given to them by their heavenly Father.
God declares to them their identity and their destiny.
The Abrahamic Covenant assures Abraham and Sarah that despite their failures and mistakes, God's faithfulness and love remain the same. God will bless them. He will multiply their descendants. He will give them the land. He will be their God for all generations.
As a sign of the covenant, God calls Abraham and all males in his household to be circumcised.
That seems like a strange sign of the covenant?! The rainbow seems a lot better
But God has meaning in this act. It is the dedication of the most intimate part of myself to Him. It is a picture of the cutting away of the flesh and the need for a new heart.
There's a lot to cover in Genesis 17! But, praise God, we also learn in this chapter that He is El Shaddai. He is all-sufficient and all-powerful. He is more than enough!
And we will celebrate communion together as a reminder that we are part of His New Covenant with us!
May we come to a deeper understanding of who we are in Christ and may we know our true name in Him!