Genesis 17: Covenant Renewed and Name Changes

God told Abraham to "get thee out of thy country" and promised him a legacy that would bless all the families of the earth. But for decades, Abraham and Sarah had no land and no children. How do you keep walking when the promises of God seem impossible?

Summary: In this episode, we dive into the heart of the Old Testament:

The Abrahamic Covenant. We look at Genesis 12–17 and Abraham 1–2 to see how a "foreigner and a stranger" became the Father of the Faithful.

The Search for Greater Happiness: We analyze Abraham’s desire for the "blessings of the fathers" and why he sought for his own "place of residence" spiritually and physically.

The Three-Part Promise: We break down the core of the covenant—Posterity (seed as the stars), Priesthood (the power to bless), and Property (a land of inheritance).

The Name Change: We explore the profound symbolism of Abram becoming Abraham and Sarai becoming Sarah—adding the Hebrew letter "He" (the breath of God) into their very identities.

The Symbolism of Circumcision: We discuss the "token" of the covenant and why God requires a physical reminder of our spiritual commitments.

Sarah’s Role: We look at why Sarah is the "Rock" from which we are hewn and how her faith was just as essential to the covenant as Abraham's.

Call-to-Action: Abraham was told to "be thou a blessing." How are you using your covenant privileges to bless those around you today? Let us know in the comments! If you’re ready to "look unto the rock whence ye are hewn," please like, subscribe, and share this video to help others stay "Unshaken."

Chapter Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

2:22 Looking to Abraham & Sarah

8:49 Looking for More

13:20 The Fathers vs. My Fathers

20:16 The Daughters of Onitah

25:27 Abraham Delivered & Called

31:58 Journey to the Promised Land

39:23 Priesthood Promises

43:23 The Importance of Posterity

45:42 Temple Sealings & the Abrahamic Covenant

49:29 Exclusivity vs. Inclusivity

55:59 Seeking & Finding

1:01:01 Establishing Altars

1:09:21 The Sacrifice of Sarah

1:22:23 Abraham & Lot

1:36:23 Rescuing Lot

1:44:16 Sodom or Salem

1:52:20 Melchizedek

2:04:54 The Promise of Seed

2:13:13 The Confines of Covenant

2:18:32 Waiting for the Cup to Fill

2:26:57 Sarah & Hagar

2:39:31 Pride from Above & Pride from Below

2:48:35 Facing Awkward Conversations

2:51:59 Ishmael

2:56:38 Covenant Renewed

3:02:00 Circumcision

3:09:23 Sarah

3:18:38 Immediate Obedience

3:20:25 Wanting the Blessings of Abraham & Sarah