Genesis 17:15-16 gives the account of God telling Abraham that he was to rename his wife from Sarai to Sarah and that God will bless her with a son. Sarah shall become a mother of nations and kings of people shall come from her. While this conversation may seem, on the surface, as merely a rechristening one, a close look at the Bible reveals, certain hidden treasures in this account.
First, note the timeframe when God gives this promise to Abraham. Sarai was childless still but Sarah shall not be. Sarah would be become a mother to many nations as from her son, Isaac, would be begotten Jacob, from whom the twelve nations (tribes) of Israel would come. We also see that of her children, down the line, many kings would arise (as God had promised of her), the most notable ones being king David and king Solomon of Israel and through David, Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, himself. Second, the name Sarai means one who is contentious (quarrelsome), which we see evident in the life of Sarai as she dealt with Hagar and Abram, blaming Abram for what she had asked him to do. Sarah on the other hand, in Biblical Hebrew, means a crowned head (a princess) and so we see God renaming Sarah to possibly remind her of who she is in his sight – a princess. Third, this account expresses that God would include Abraham’s wife into the blessings he was blessing Abraham with – thereby establishing that God is a “family” God.
Points to ponder:
With God, someone who is childless can become the mother of nations from whom kings shall rise.
With God, a quarrelsome person can become a queen.
With God, our loved ones are included in his blessings of us for God is a ‘family’ God.
Question that remains to be answered then is “Are you with God?”
Genesis 17:15-16 (KJV)
15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
