God meets with Abram again, confirming his covenant, and assuring Abram that God will provide him with a son through Sarai, his wife, despite their old age and years of childlessness. Then God names this new family.

From Abram, meaning ‘Exalted Father’
To Abraham, meaning ‘Father of multitudes’

From Sarai, meaning ‘She that strives’
To Sarah, meaning ‘Princess’

From Ishmael, meaning ‘God listens’
To Isaac, meaning ‘He laughs’

Abram and Sarai both received new names fit for their role as parents of a multitude of descendants. But Ishmael and Isaac’s names reveal their stories in a different way. Ishmael, child of Sarai’s selfish plans, has a name that reminds us that God listens when we are lost, in pain, rejected and unfairly treated, as Hagar and Ishmael were.

And Isaac’s name reminds us of both Abraham and Sarah’s reactions when they heard the full reality of God’s plans for them – to doubt, to laugh in disbelief. And yet God came through on all his promises, and Sarah did indeed bear a son in her extreme old age. Man might laugh, misunderstand, and take matters into his own hands, but God is faithful from age to age, from generation to generation.

Isaac’s very name would be a permanent reminder that nothing is beyond God, however far outside of human understanding God’s plans may seem to be. All of mankind may scoff and laugh, but God is, always has been, and always will be, sovereign.

next devotional >>

 

 

NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH