Tuesday, March 3

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous." Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.
God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her." Genesis 17:1–7, 15–16


Awe….Amazement…and…RESPONSIBILITY

Have you ever had one of those moments when you felt awe, amazement and responsibility? I imagine that is what Abraham must have felt. Here he was, an old man, when God appeared to him and shared the news that he would be the “ancestor to a multitude of nations.” Abraham would become a father at ninety-nine. I’m sure he felt awe…(Wow)….amazement…(Really!?!?!)…then responsibility…(Oh my goodness). I know that these are feelings I experience every day as a parent. I feel awe when my kids do something really special, amazement as they grow and become more independent, and responsibility as I help to show them what is important and right. All of these things must have been going through Abraham (and Sarah’s) mind.


Gracious God, Thank you for the gifts of awe, amazement and responsibility. Let us share your word and these gifts with the next generation, and generations beyond. Amen.

Elder Peg Rachfal