Genesis 17:1-61And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. (Genesis 17:1‑6)
“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me and be thou perfect.” In Abram’s failure, when he yielded to impatience and allowed the flesh to govern his actions, he was not “walking before God,” but now he is introduced afresh to God’s grace in calling him back to the pathway of blessing. He is reminded too of the character of that divine Person who, in the land of Ur so many years back, first called him to obedience and blessing. It is as “Almighty God” that He now addresses him—the same “God of glory” who spoke to him in that distant land.
“And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him.” As that voice again penetrated his conscience, Abram’s place is in prostration — an attitude suited to exercise of heart. In a sense, Abram being on his face before God is the character of this chapter for he is found in this position both in verse 3 and 17. He had learned a costly lesson and the expression, “I am the Almighty God,” awakened him to the fact that it was to Him he must always look and not rely on his flesh or own purposes. “Walk before Me, and be thou perfect.” The effect is humbling, as he thinks how imperfect he had been and how he had failed to walk before God in the circumstances concerning Hagar. Now he is undoubtedly aware that everything having to do with nature and the flesh must be set aside, and that through God alone every purpose is to be established.
Only when this is experienced can Abram “walk before God and be perfect.” Although he had known before what it was to walk with God, that walk was interrupted by his breach of faith and, as is always the case when a child of God goes in self. will, he had tasted the bitter fruit of his carelessness. But God calls him back to His place and, following Abram’s expression of humility, unfolds an enlarged project to His servant. “And I will make My covenant between Me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.” verse 2. If the verses that follow are read carefully it will be noted that all God tells Abram about is based on those wonderful words, “I will.” It is not here “thou shalt,” for the promises are from God and He alone could bring them to reality.
“Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.” verse 5. Abram, by which name we have known this man of faith so far, means “great father,” indicating his place as head of a great family. But Abraham means more: “father of a multitude,” promising him a place not only as head of a great family, but as head of a multitude of nations as well. It was a happy thing for Abram to be given this new name and to realize that all the new covenant given by God was connected with it —and a change of name for Sarai as well. Those who today come to God through Christ are given a new name too, as we read in 1 John 3:11Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3:1): “Bold, what manner of love the Father bath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.”
ML 07/18/1965