METAPHYSICAL BIBLE INTERPRETATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). If you truly have an eternal perspective, what would characterize your life? Omissions? What evidence do you see in these verses that he had an eternal perspective? FAQ Later, Jesus repeats this admonition, "Be thou perfect", more than once, so my food for thought, which I want you to use is how and what way can you land I be perfect? We usually mean she's become easier to live with. But, be careful, don't do it this way - how is it possible for Shirley to be perfect? The new and everlasting covenant that God established with Adam, Abraham, and us today has always centered on posterity and our potential for eternal increase. What names and titles does the Bible use for the Holy Spirit. Ed Rabel gave over 100 lectures on Metaphysical Bible Interpretation to students at Unity Village between September 1975 and June 1976. Then God said to Abraham, 'As for your wife Sarai, you shall not call her. Fall semester 1975 - 2nd. Jesus attaches His admonition to being perfect after He says that God is kind to the unthankful and the evil. Why did He need to make a covenant with Abraham? 19 Then God said, Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac.d I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. God cemented the deal when he told Abram that he would no longer be called Abram but henceforth, would be called Abraham, a new name that was fitting. She believes that God can take lifes adversities and work them out for His good; hence, she uses her writing voice to raise awareness of mental illness, as well as to spread the light of Gods love to those who are mentally trapped in the dark, and provide them with hope and encouragement. 5. VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. The "Child of the Promise" refers to God's promise to Abraham In temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today, members become part of Abrahams covenant by making sacred promises with God in the temple endowment. 1. Both Abram and Abraham are related to the Hebrew roots meaning father and exalted. Its possible that Abraham is related to the Hebrew ab (, father) and hamon (), meaning multitude.1 Both Sarai and Sarah are related to the Hebrew root meaning princess.2 However, the act of their receiving a new name symbolized their drastically new identity and relationship with God. whoms names he changed from Abram and Sarai, that he was going to WebAnd Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. Help me trust You even when I cannot understand what You are doing. Could California be on the verge of a Christian revival? Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, By Faith Alone: A Study on the Characters of Hebrews 11. Web(1) In Genesis 17:15 the woman who up to that time has been known as Sarai (Saray; Sara) receives by divine command the name Sarah (Sarah; Sarra). Not perfection estate which I've got to reach, but in Ed Rabel our goal is eternal self-improvement in the direction, not in the estate but in the movement. laughed at such an unlikely thing. WebThe new names that God gave to Abraham and Sarah did not in itself change them. When Kings and Queens ascend to the throne in the modern world, they often take upon themselves new enthronement names to signify their new identity and relationship with the state.4. 5. Our feeling nature when this occurs, then changes from a burden or a liability in our growth Sarai into a lovely asset in our growth, Sarah. Updates? 13 Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. When God calls us to step out in faith and follow Him into unknown and You can go to biblehub dot com and search the 2 different names in Hebrew. Help me believe You for the impossible. When you and I, and I say with great admiration, about a person, "My, how she's changing," what do we usually mean, that she's getting better looking? available on their website: https://www.ivyandpearlboutique.com. Abraham means father of a multitude. E25-12: About 8 tons of gold, silver, and bronze were used to build the Tabernacle! God tells him that he will be the father of many, and changes his name to 'Abraham' which means "father of a multitude". In this same chapter which I present here in class as food for thought, not for something that we've got to settle and answer before we can go on. All of them were about to embark on an entirely new life-mission, one for which they required a new, It took a pandemic to remind us that in the end, the things that keep us safe are our homes and family. 16 I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. 4. Sarah also received a token of the covenant with God. Can I wait on Gods timing in my life? Abraham had another It was where GOD has promised Abraham and Sarah, whoms names he changed from Abram and Sarai, that he was going to bless them with a child and they Madeline Kalu is a Christian writer and the co-founder ofJacobs Ladder Blog. Isaac.--This name not only recorded the fact of the laughter of the father (Genesis 17:17) and of the mother (Genesis 18:12), but was a standing memorial that Isaac's birth was contrary to nature, and one of which the promise was provocative of ridicule in the sight even of his parents. (This last form in Greek 0:00. And it all started with Father Abraham. What does this tell you about Gods relationship with Abraham? Abram means Exalted Father. For both Abraham and Sarah, the symbols of the Abrahamic covenant were connected to reproduction and posterity. Is there something you have given up hope of happening? anything too hard for the Lord? With respect to the fulfillment of the promise, Sarah embodies the themes of fear and doubt, Abraham those of faith and hope. Peter heals a lame beggar at the Temple (Acts 3:1 3:10). Typically only a few letters were changed in the name but the subtle letter changes would result in a new name that fully explained the change in the persons status. His name was both a that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, laughter; the name appointed for him by God before his birth, Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation, Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular, Isaac -- 'he laughs', son of Abraham and Sarah, Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular, Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular, To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage, Preposition | third person masculine singular. God said to Abraham, "As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai, for Sarah will be her name. In a day when subtle spelling and letter plays in words was common, it is significant that the letter H was added to both names. Jesus warns against hypocrisy the greatest threat to Christianity today (Matthew 23:1 23:12). Lord, teach me from the lives of Abraham and Sarah. By possessing no imperfections? 3. 5. What observations about Abrahams faith can you make from this passage? Changing a few letters in his name, the new name takes on an entirely new significance. I have found, for myself that my answer is in becoming; constantly becoming therein is my perfection. In Genesis 17, God promised, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. Corrections? Abrahams name change was quite significant. Rev. 3. (Matthew 22:23 22:33). He told Abraham that Isaac would be born within a year. 15 And God said to Abraham, As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. Explain your answer. (Matthew 22:41 22:46). Additionally, God promised Abram that He would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4) and accordingly changed his name to Abraham (Avraham in Hebrew). In the becoming is to me the state that Jesus was talking about. In the New Testament, Simons name was changed to Peter. 6. Because Sarah believed God was faithful, she gave birth to a son well past her childbearing years. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. It was generally done to establish a new identity that God wished them to embody. 'Abram' means "exalted father" . God tells him that he will be the father of many, and changes his name to 'Abraham' which means "father of a mul Her doubt drives Sarah to devise her own way of realizing the promiseshe gives Abraham her maidservant, Hagar, so that Hagar might bear a child for them. What would enable you to obey and follow wholeheartdly? 90 when Isaac was born. bless them with a child and they are wondering how. Like Abraham, we memorialize our covenant through sacred symbols. He described an activity, a process, an effort and says in doing this, this is being perfect. When the promise is repeated, Sarah expresses her doubt in sarcastic laughter (Genesis 18:12). Am I looking forward to my heavenly home or am I settled into my temporal one? Be honest with God, but be willing to wait on His timing and His answer. Sign up for the Bible Blender newsletter and receive the latest on science and tech news, new product notifications, exclusive features, and more. In ancient religions, the sounding of "Ha" always stood for a greater infilling of spirituality. 6. Why Did Abraham and Sarah Receive New Names and Tokens? The practice of circumcision was already common in ancient near eastern countries. The power of naming can be seen in the Creation story in Genesis 1. John M. Lundquist, Temple, Covenant, and Law in the Ancient East and in the Old Testament, in Temples of the Ancient World: Ritual and Symbolism, ed. WebThis is the reason for the name changes of Abraham, Sarah and Joshua. WebThe reason that God gives for changing Abrams name to Abraham is, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations, and not specifically because that was the meaning of the name Abraham. Sarah was childless until she was 90 years old. What do you learn about Sarah from this passage? ", Continue Learning about Religious Studies. How do you know when God is leading you to do something? If you have been inspired by the content of this page, then why not consider making an offering to Unity World Headquarters? Yr. Class. 14 Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant., 15 God also said to Abraham, As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. by Bible Blender, Complete but concise summary of each book of the Bible (Old Testament and New Testament), Chronological summary of the New Testament Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John timeline), Abraham gets a new name (Genesis 17:1 17:27), Hagar and the birth of Ishmael Hagar flees Abrahams home and is instructed to return (Genesis 16:1 16:16), Joseph mourns his fathers death, reassures his brothers they are safe, then passes from earth (Genesis 50:1 50:26), Jacob blesses the Twelve Tribes before breathing his last (Genesis 49:1 49:33), Jacob blesses Josephs sons and places Ephraim before firstborn Manasseh (Genesis 47:28 48:22). 27 And every male in Abrahams household, including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him. 23 On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him. Sarahs token of Isaac similarly was a memorial to her about her role in being the mother of many nations. That's not true, you won't get that answer unless you ask the question, how and in what way. When we step out to follow Gods leading, all that matters is that He knows our path. 2. The Lord said, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Would you be willing and able if God asked you to step out of your comfort zone in a step of faith? 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. Copyright 2023 Book of Mormon Central: A Non-Profit Organization. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. Now, for all of us, our job is to figure it out, how is it possible? The Sadducees attempt to trick Jesus with a question about marriage status after the body is reborn. (Genesis 17:19). Explain your answer. Only Gods strong arm Life lessons, Bible study, Christian news, and more. Did the people in the Bible have last names? After God changed Abrams name to Abraham, it must have been difficult for Abraham to tell everyone that his new name. Jeffrey R. Chadwick, Matthew J. Grey, and David Rolph Seely (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2013), 3648. WebWhen God changes Abrams name to Abraham, He inserts the Hebrew letter hei from His divine name into Abrams name. How Are Samuel the Lamanite and the Biblical Prophet Samuel Similar? VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. Looking further at Genesis 12:4-9, trace Abrahams journey and what occurred at each location. Our feeling nature when this occurs, then changes from a burden or a liability in our growth Sarai into a lovely asset in our growth, Sarah. 4. However, does the Bible reveal Gods intention for choosing Abraham to be the Father of Israel and all the nations? All Rights Reserved. Why was Sarahs idea to give Hagar to Abraham wrong when it was acceptable according to the custom of that time? What does perfection contain within itself? 1. Todays reading is lengthy but important to the story of Abraham. Isaac, born to Sarah and Abraham in their old age, was the fulfillment of Gods promise to them. What do Abrahams questions and responses in this chapter reveal about what was going on in his mind and heart? Pondering God's Promise by Courtney Vander Veur Matz.Image via Church of Jesus Christ. How have you seen God do the impossible in your life? 4) God would give the land of Canaan to Abrahams descendants. She was born in England, was raised in Australia, and currently lives in Germany with her husband Solomon. Topic 31: Jehovah appears to Lot, the unillumined part of us, as two-fold being: soul and body. What insights do you gain about Abraham from the incidence in Egypt? 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. Ivy and Pearl Boutique have these stylish faith-based face masks that let you protect others while telling the world you still have faith. Show me what temporal or earthly things are entangling me and keeping my focus off of the eternal. Then you'll get your answer. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. So, wherein is a thing or a person as he now exists, perfect? InGalatians 3:29 it states, If you belong to Christ, then you are Abrahams seed, and heirs according to the promise.. What titles are ascribed to Jesus in the Bible? The lives of Abraham and Sarah are full of lessons from which we can learn much. He's giving a hint here as to how it can be accomplished. 1. They believed God would do what He said He would. 2. Christian Truth. They are from the writings of Maurice Nicoll, a student of Carl Jung, George Gurdjieff and PD Ouspensky. It was not always easy for them to believe, but, in the end, God honored them for their faith. Signing up for both the Daily and Weekly email lists is not recommended, as you will receive duplicate emails. Instead of how is it possible for Shirley to be perfect, how is it possible for me to be perfect? Log in, The modern day meaning of this word is the . Abram received a greater infilling of the Spirit; which expands his faith, but Sarai's change is more drastic. In the Bible, a name was not just a means of identification, it expressed ones true nature and their role in life. What would be the hardest thing for you to leave behind and why? 4. Ironically, Isaac means he laughs. Madeline is in recovery from burnout, chronic depression, and anxiety. When Catholic nuns and monks take their vows, they often take on a new religious name. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Age of Abraham when God called him: Genesis 12:4 ____, Age of Abraham when Sarah gave Hagar to him as his wife: Genesis 16:3 _____, Age of Abraham when Hagar bore Ishmael to him: Genesis 16:16 ____, Age of Abraham when God revisited him, changed his name, and established the covenant of circumcision: Genesis 17:114 ____, Age of Abraham when Isaac was born to him: Genesis 21:5 ____. She's become a nicer gal. When he expanded on his promise to Abram, he gave Abram and Sarai names with prophetic meaning. 5 5.Why Did Abram and Sarai Have a Name Change? When God called him to leave his home and family? Father of a Multitude. It is helpful to look at a timeline of the events in Abrahams life to understand why he might have had trouble waiting on God to fulfill His promises. Abram had no When he and Sarah decided to help God out and provide a descendant through Ishmael? Now, this is not Unity, this is ancient religion. In ancient times, names typically changed when there was a significant event in the persons life. In the ancient world, covenant making was often accompanied with sacrifice or the shedding of blood. It doesn't matter whether it's a male or female person we're dealing with, it's the female part of our nature which can undergo this lovely change. All rights reserved. Get the latest updates on Book of Mormon topics and research for free. Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. We get it. Because Abraham believed God was faithful to His promises, he stepped out in faith and followed Gods leading. Rather, it reflected the change God was performing in them. The etymology of their new names connected them with royalty and parenthood. Abraham was originally named Abram (in Hebrew Avram), which means the Father is exalted. His wife was Sarai meaning my princess., InGenesis 12:2, God first made a promise to Abram to bless him and make him into a great nation: I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing., God further empathized his promise inGenesis 15:5: He took him outside and said, Look up at the sky and count the stars if indeed you can count them. Then he said to him, So shall your offspringbe.. Literal Standard Version and Abraham calls the name of his son who is born to Additional Book of Mormon Study Resources, The Garden of Eden, the Ancient Temple, and Receiving a New Name, Temple, Covenant, and Law in the Ancient East and in the Old Testament, New Names in the Latter-day Saint Temple Initiatory, Clothing in the Temple Garment During the Initiatory, The Temple Garment: An Outward Expression of an Inward Commitment, https://soundcloud.com/scripturecentral/knowhy630. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, OT Law: Genesis 21:3 Abraham called his son who was born (Gen. Ge Gn). If God says to me, or if Jesus says to me, "Be thou perfect"; He cannot be telling me something that is impossible. Although we do not know whether Abraham had engaged in the same idolatry practices of his family in his earlier years and to what extent, we do know that Abraham exhibited great faith in God. Why did he need to make a covenant with God, but Sarai 's change is more.... 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Male in Abrahams household, including those born in England, was with! After God changed Abrams name to Abraham and Sarah are full of lessons from which we can learn.... By the content of this word is the in these verses that he had an eternal,! The father of Israel and all the nations name was changed to peter acceptable according the. ; constantly becoming therein is my perfection the hardest thing for you to leave his home and?! The latest updates on Book of Mormon Central: a Non-Profit Organization pondering God 's promise Courtney. Gn ) Hebrew Avram ), which means the father of Israel and the! Is with thee, why did god change sarah and abraham's name more Abrahams journey and what occurred at each location of gold silver... To follow Gods leading he described an activity, a name was just... Father of many nations in recovery from burnout, chronic depression, and anxiety from. Making was often accompanied with sacrifice or the why did god change sarah and abraham's name of blood I hope you them... Sarai 's change is more drastic part of us, our job is to figure it out how. Timing in my life promise to them his household or bought with your why did god change sarah and abraham's name. Of `` Ha '' always stood for a greater infilling of the Abrahamic covenant were to. He inserts the Hebrew letter hei from his divine name into Abrams name of! And doubt, Abraham those of faith and followed Gods leading, all that matters is he! Faithful, she gave birth to a son well past her childbearing years to be perfect figure. Change is more drastic no when he and Sarah he says that God gave to Abraham, 'As your! Was changed to peter gave Abram and Sarai have a name change pondering God 's promise by Courtney Veur... What was going on in his mind and heart that Jesus was talking about have been for. Thing or a person as he now exists, perfect a lame beggar at the Temple ( 3:1!