Devotion reading for the week of Sept. 4th 2017

source 

• Sept. 4th Genesis 17:15-17 Saria (Sarah), Mother of Nations
• Sept. 5th Genesis 17:20-22 Ishmael, Father of a Nation
• Sept. 6th Genesis 17:23-27 Abraham's Household Circumcised
• Sept. 7th Acts 7:1-8 Circumcision Event Remembered
• Sept. 8th Romans 4:13-25 Promise Realized Through Faith
• Sept. 9th Hebrews 8:1-8 Jesus, Mediator of Better Covenant
• Sept. 10th Genesis 17:1-14 Covenant with Abraham Reaffirmed

Devotions from: Standard Lesson Commentary, (2017). Standard Publishing, part of David C Cook family Colorado Springs, CO

---

Sarai to Sarah - Mother of Nations

Genesis 17:15-17; A promise is made to Abraham that there will be a son by Sarai.  The fulfillment of this promise will be fulfilled by this son through Sarai.  An assurance of this promise from God was the changing of Sarai's name:

Sarai signifies my princess, as if her honour were confined to one family only. Sarah signifies a princess-namely, of multitudes, or signifying that from her should come the Messiah the prince, even the prince of the kings of the earth. (From: Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 113.) emphasis mine

Abraham was glad, showing great joy and laughed out of delight.  Jesus, in John 8:56, said that "Abraham rejoiced to see my day."

Did you notice there was only one letter changed?  That one letter change in her name resulted in a change of such magnitude that I wonder if she could grasp.  I wonder too at times what change God has made in my life that was just a small as one letter that I may have overlooked.  Don't think that God has nothing for your life when a change, like one letter in a name, could carry lasting results.  May we learn to thrive in what God has for us, Jeremiah 29:11, even when it seems that our circumstances are not favorable.

Perhaps your life was changed by the Savior, whose name means “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). If so, your name is written in the lamb’s book of life. What a wonderful change! (Standard Lesson Commentary, (2017). Standard Publishing, part of David C Cook family Colorado Springs, CO)