At this point… in verse 5… God changes Abram’s name. It now means “father of many.” The promise hadn’t come yet… but God wanted Abram to get it down in his spirit. Call yourself “father of many.” Others will call you “father of many.” God knew that what Abram would hear himself say over and over.. .and hear others say about him over and over… would grow in his spirit and strengthen his faith. That’s how faith and confession works.
So Abram is now Abraham. God repeats His covenant bond to Abraham in in verse 9 He reminds him of his part. “Now as for YOU… you shall keep my covenant.” We all have our part to do … and it is to be “obedient” to what God says. The sign of the covenant was circumcision. Not an easy thing for all of those older men to do… but it was done. It wasn’t an option for them.
Verse 15: “Now, as for Sarai… (Sarah shall be her name.” Sarah means Princess.) God reminds Abraham that Sarah will bear him a child… and for some reason Abraham is still fighting this idea. He claims it is his age… yet he should know God can do what He said. He was OLD. Perhaps he didn’t want anymore children running around? Regardless of the reason, Abraham falls on his face before God and laughs. He asks God to let Ishmael be the one the promise comes through. At this point God names the son… Isaac… which means “laughter.” God knew already that Sarah would also laugh when she heard it. Or is it “laughter” because this child would bring “rejoicing?”
It is no mistake that Isaac, the son of the promise, would be conceived AFTER God formed His covenant with Abraham. Ishmael, the son of Hagar, was born of a bondwoman… Isaac was born of a free woman. All of these little things point to freedom and grace that will come through Jesus Christ.
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