Abraham and Almighty God- the Name Changer
- Ken Kalis
- May 12
- 7 min read
Updated: May 12
My name on my birth certificate is Kenneth John Kalis.
My friends and my family called me Kenny until I was grown and "Ken" after that.
Mr. Kalis was my career and business name.
Only 2 people got to call me "Dad" and 8 more "Uncle Ken".
One day, Jesus is going to give me a new name, that only He and I will know. He has a name for you too!
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About 13 years have passed since the Angel of the LORD appeared to Hagar and prophesied that she would have a son. At the end of Genesis 16, we learn that the boy has been born, and Abram* (1996-1821 BC) has named him Ishmael. Imagine how happy the 86-year-old man was to finally have a son!
An asterisk* after a name means that person is in SPIRITUAL LIVES.
Genesis 17 begins:
[1] And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.[2] And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. I am the Almighty God.—Heb., El shaddai.
The word is Archaic, but there is no doubt that it means strong so as to overpower. Besides its use in Genesis we find it employed as the name of Deity by Balaam* (1502-1452 BC) ((Numbers 24:4; Numbers 24:16); by Naomi (Ruth 1:20); and in the Book of Job, where it occurs thirty-one times. We may thus regard it as “one of the more general worldwide titles of the Most High” (Speaker’s Commentary).
In Exodus 6:3 it is said, with evident reference to this place, that El shaddai was the name of God revealed to the patriarchs, but that He was not known to them by His name Jehovah. – Charles Ellicott (1819-1906)
the Lord appeared to Abram; in a visible manner, in an human form very probably, even the Logos, the Word and Son of God: it seems as if the Lord had not appeared to him since the birth of Ishmael, until this time; and if so, it may be thought to be a correction of him for listening to the voice of his wife in marrying Hagar, without asking counsel of God: - John Gill (1697-1771)
Wait a minute, didn't God already make a covenant with Abram before?
(2) I will make my covenant.—In Genesis 15:18 the Heb. word for “make” is cut, and refers to the severing of the victims; here it is “give,” “place,” and implies that it was an act of grace on God’s part......
Abram had now waited twenty-five years after leaving Ur-Chasdim, and fourteen or fifteen years since the ratification of the solemn covenant between him and Jehovah (Genesis 15:17); but the time had at length arrived for the fulfilment of the promise, and in token thereof Abram and Sarai were to change their names, and all the males be brought near to God by a solemn sacrament. – Ellicot
this was a new covenant, the covenant of circumcision. : and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. – Acts 7:8
But at this point, Abram was not circumcised, nor was Ishmael, and Abram clearly thought that God was accomplishing His covenant via Ishmael.
God's plan was different altogether:
[3] And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.[5] Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be ABRAHAM; for a father of many nations have I made thee….[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.
Name changes: In Eastern countries a change of name is an advertisement of some new circumstance in the history, rank, or religion of the individual who bears it. The change is made variously, by the old name being entirely dropped for the new, or by conjoining the new with the old; or sometimes only a few letters are inserted, so that the altered form may express the difference in the owner's state or prospects.
It is surprising how soon a new name is known, and its import spread through the country. In dealing with Abraham and Sarah, God was pleased to adapt His procedure to the ideas and customs of the country and age. Instead of Abram, "a high father," he was to be called Abraham, "father of a multitude of nations," Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
God is a name-changer! We will see this again and again throughout the scriptures: Jacob = Israel; Jerubbaal, who is Gideon; Solomon = Jedidiah; Simon = Peter; Saul = Paul. And most significantly of all, the "overcomers" of Revelation 2:17:
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a NEW NAME written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. – the Lord Jesus Christ* (4BC - 3= AD).
[17] Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
I have always thought this laugh was one of doubt, but the Jewish commentators call it a laugh of joy. The New Testament bears this out: Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. – John 8:56 and
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; - Romans 4:20
We notice here that Abraham told God he wanted Ishmael to be the answer to his promise, but God overruled his will with His. How often has this occurred in my life. Here, God explains His plan clearly and it includes Sarah too whom Abram had overlooked in his thinking.
[19] And God said, 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.
God does not overlook Ishmael but hasother plansfor him.......[21] But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.[22] And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
In this passage the one Deity is first the Angel of God, and then, successively, Lord and God. But to Abraham He is God only. For when the distinction of Persons had first been made, as a safeguard against the delusion that God is a solitary Being, then His true and unqualified name could safely be uttered…..
Is it possible to doubt that He Who was previously called the Angel of God is here, in the sequel, spoken of as God? In both instances He is speaking of Ishmael; in both it is the same Person Who shall multiply him. To save us from supposing that this was a different Speaker from Him who had addressed Hagar, the Divine words expressly attest the identity, saying, And I have blessed him, and will multiply him.
The blessing is repeated from a former occasion, for Hagar had already been addressed; the multiplication is promised for a future day, for this is God’s first word to Abraham concerning Ishmael. Now it is God Who speaks to Abraham; to Hagar the Angel of God had spoken. Thus God and the Angel of God are One; He Who is the Angel of God is also God the Son of God.
He is called the Angel because He is the Angel of great counsel; but afterwards He is spoken of as God, lest we should suppose that He Who is God is only an angel. Let us now repeat the facts in order. The Angel of the Lord spoke to Hagar; He also spoke to Abraham as God. One Speaker addressed both. The blessing was given to Ishmael, and he was promised that he would grow into a great people. --Hilary of Poitiers, (310-367) On the Trinity
Abraham circumcised Ishmael, his son, and all those born in his house. He was 99 years old, and his son 13. This marks the end of Abram's effort to help God out with His promise but the beginning of the everlasting covenant with His people.
We will see this covenant unfold through other theophanies to Abraham and his children, and we learn from them all that the LORD hasplans for all of us, something He told Jeremiah* (659-588 BC) succinctly 1200 years later.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. - Jeremiah 29:11
1 God is working this purpose out,
as year succeeds to year;
God is working this purpose out,
and the time is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be:
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.
2 From utmost east to utmost west,
where human feet have trod,
by the mouth of many messengers
goes forth the voice of God:
“Give ear to me, ye continents,
ye isles, give ear to me,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.”
3 Let us go forth in the strength of God,
with the banner of Christ unfurled,
that the light of the glorious gospel of truth
may shine throughout the world.
Let us all fight with sorrow and sin
to set the captives free,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.
4 All we can do is nothing worth
unless God blesses the deed.
Vainly we hope for the harvest-tide
till God gives life to the seed.
Yet nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.
Author: Arthur Campbell Ainger (1894)
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