One of the explicit teachings of the Bible is the importance of the words we speak. In
this text God changes Abram's name to Abraham and promises Abraham that he will become the
father of many nations. "Abram" means "High Father" or
"Patriarch." Abraham means "Father of a Multitude." Thus, God was
arranging that very time Abraham heard or spoke his own name, he would be reminded of
God's promise. One commentator states it well: "God associates the patriarch more
nearly to Himself, by thus imparting to him a portion of His own name," noting God
added this to Abraham "for the sake of dignity." The principle: Let God's words,
which designated His will and promise for your life, become as fixed in your mind
as governing of your speech as God's changing Abraham's name was in shaping his concept or
himself. Do not "name" anything less than God does. |
