Monday 19 October, 2015

2 Comments/in /by

Genesis‬ ‭17:1-8‬ ‭

17 When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him. He said, “I am the Mighty God. Walk faithfully with me. Live in a way that pleases me. 2 I will now act on my covenant between me and you. I will greatly increase the number of your children after you.” 3 Abram fell with his face to the ground. God said to him, 4 “This is my covenant with you. You will be the father of many nations. 5 You will not be called Abram anymore. Your name will be Abraham, because I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will greatly increase the number of your children after you. Nations and kings will come from you. 7 I will make my covenant with you last forever. It will be between me and you and your family after you for all time to come. I will be your God. And I will be the God of all your family after you. 8 You are now living in Canaan as an outsider. But I will give you the whole land of Canaan. You will own it forever and so will all your family after you. And I will be their God.”

Abraham is a recipient of divine grace. El-Shaddai reveals himself to Abraham by grace and makes a promise to him. Abraham’s response is faith, imperfect but willing to journey and walk with El-Shaddai, God the Almighty.

Abraham had descendants, the nation of Israel, the ones who ‘wrestled with God’. Paul shows us that through The Messiah, Jesus, we can become children of Abraham, if we respond in faith, willing to walk and journey with El-Shaddai.

“But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.”
Romans 11:17-18

El-Shaddai, God Almighty, you are our root, our nourishment. You have sustained your people through the winding centuries and have promised to journey with them. We are yours, a precious inheritance, a kingdom of priests for your glory. Teach us to walk with you, to talk with you, to be nourished by you. Amen

Written by Andrew Mellor

2 replies
  2. Andrew Martin says:

    Thanks Andrew,
    It is so important to be reminded of the grace extended to us, heirs by faith of the promises made to Abraham.

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