The Covenant and the New Name
Genesis 17:1–6 (NASB95)
7And He said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give 1Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. 2“I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly.” 3Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, 4“As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5“No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I will make you the father of a multitude of nations. 6“I have made you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you.
God appeared to Abraham when he was ninety-nine years old, long after the first promise of a son. God introduced Himself as El Shaddai, the Almighty, and called Abraham to walk before Him and be blameless. This encounter did not come quickly. Thirteen years had passed since Ishmael’s birth. The long wait was not a mistake. God used the delay to test and shape Abraham’s faith. Each year of waiting deepened Abraham’s dependence on God’s faithfulness, not on his own ability or circumstances. The delay is preparing Abraham for the greatest test of all when God would ask him to offer Isaac, the long-awaited son, as a sacrifice. God’s timing is never wasted. He uses waiting to form trust and obedience in His people.
God then changed Abram’s name to Abraham. This was not just a new label. In the ancient world, a new name marked a new identity and a new future. Abraham means “father of many.” God gave this name before the promise was fulfilled, declaring His intention as if it were already reality. The name change was a sign that God’s promise would stand, even when it seemed impossible. It marked a turning point in Abraham’s life and in the story of redemption.
This theme of a new name runs from Genesis to Revelation. For example, in the Gospel’s Jesus gives Simon a new name: Petros or Peter. In Revelation, Jesus promises a new name to every faithful Christian, a name written on a white stone, known only to the one who receives it. This new name is a sign of belonging, transformation, and victory. Just as Abraham’s new name marked him as the father of many nations, the new name in Revelation marks believers as God’s own, set apart for His purposes. Genesis and Revelation together show that God’s story is about transformation, promise, and new identity for those who trust Him.
Abraham’s journey shows the Gospel in action. God calls, promises, and transforms. Abraham’s faith was tested by waiting, but God’s faithfulness never failed. The new name was a sign of God’s power to bring life from barrenness and hope from waiting. The story points forward to Christ, who gives every believer a new identity and a secure future.
For the church today, Abraham’s story is a call to trust God’s timing and to embrace the new identity He gives. Waiting is not wasted. God uses it to prepare us for greater things. The new name promised in Christ is a reminder that our identity is rooted in God’s promise, not in our plans. As we wait, we can walk faithfully, knowing that God’s word will come to pass.