Mar 9 - Genesis 17

In today’s reading, Genesis 17, we read that God restores Abram’s faith.

1. In this chapter God meets with Abram face to face to restore his confidence in his promise to give Abram children.
2. Then God gives Abram a rather harsh command. God tells Abram he wants Abram to circumcise himself and all males in his household as a sign of their covenant with God. This must have been a hard thing to commit to being almost a 100 years old. And imagine what all the other males in Abram’s household must have been thinking! But Abram trusts God and goes through with it all.
3. God also renames Abram (meaning father) to Abraham (father of nations). This must have been very hard for Abraham to hear. God promised him a son and now he’s 99 years old and God promises that he still will give him a son; then to top it off God renames him “Father of nations.” It’s no wonder Abraham laughed.

Have you ever had a difficult time trusting God? It probably couldn’t be nearly as hard as what Abraham was having to trust God for. It’s easy to doubt God when we can’t see him or audibly hear him. But let us learn from Abraham’s faith. Walking with God isn’t a passive thing. We have to actively have faith in God’s promises and love for us. Ask God to help you trust him more.