The Names God Takes Away: Reflection on God Changing Abram’s Name to Abraham in Gen. 17:3-9

When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him: “My covenant with you is this: you are to become the father of a host of nations. No longer shall you be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a host of nations. I will render you exceedingly fertile; I will make nations of you; kings shall stem from you. I will maintain my covenant with you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an everlasting pact, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land in which you are now staying, the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession; and I will be their God.” God also said to Abraham: “On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages.”

Genesis. 17:3-9

In our reading we have God revealing Himself more to Abram, the man who would become Abraham. We also have God revealing the covenant He wants to make with Abram and his descendants. And this covenant has two parts – the part of God and the part of Abram and his descendants. Essential to covenants in the Bible is what each member will promise to do in the relationship, and the promises of certain actions form the part of God and the part of Abraham and his descendants in our reading.

When it comes to the covenant on the part of God, the Lord will do the following:
– Bless Abram with many descendants.
– Bring fertility to Abram.
– Raise from his descendants nations and kings.
– Be faithful to both Abram and his descendants.
– Be God to both Abram and his descendants.
– Give the land of Canaan over to Abram and his descendants permanently.
– Change Abram’s name to Abraham in order to reflect all of this.

When it comes to the covenant on the part of Abram and his descendants only one thing is listed in the reading: keep the covenant God is establishing with them “throughout the ages.”

Right away we can see that it seems like God is pulling all the weight in the covenant and comparison to what Abram and his descendants will have to do. One may ask: what is it going to cost Abram and his descendants? Looking at Abram we can see that there is direct cost. God takes something from Abram. The Lord takes away his name. However, we can say that God takes away from Abram more than just the collection of five letters (in English at least) that designate him from other people. Because we know that names are important. Abrams parents gave him that name. His name comes from a culture and a people. His name gave Abram his identity. So when God takes away Abram’s name he is taking something he has possibly cherished all his life up to that point. God takes away Abram’s name and past identity. Additionally, we know that God does the same thing with others in the Bible. God renames:

Sarai to Sarah. (Gen. 17:15)
Jacob to Israel. (Gen. 35:10)
Simon to Peter. (Matt. 16:17-18)

When God changes someone’s name it is important because it signals a new mission. But when God changes someone’s name it can also be scary because it signals a change must occur when the person in order to fit the mission that He gives. And we know it is scary because God sometimes takes away the “names” we cherish, especially during Lent. But the names I am talking about are not necessarily the names we are given at birth. So what names am I talking about?

They are the names we give ourselves when we exalt ourselves over others. They are the names we give ourselves when we divide ourselves from our neighbors and assume for them the worst of motives because they are on the “other side” and thus are the “enemy.” They are even the names we give ourselves when we are trapped in cycles of our own sin and failures. And to one extent or another we cherish these names because they give us comfort, give us our identity, or at the very least provide explanations for why things are the way they are – even if the name is self-destructive to us. But what does God do in the face of this?

Well we know that sometimes when God takes away one thing there is something even better that He wants to give. And so even though God took away Abram’s name God gives him a new and better name. This new name is better because it comes with a new identity (a father) and a mission (to be the genesis of a “host” of people from which shall come kings and, ultimately, the King of Kings who will gather all the nations to himself and Abraham will be their “father in faith.”) Thus, the name Abram would no longer fit. This fatherhood and this mission take Abraham.

But the Lord does the same for us in our lives. God gives us better names and identities when we give up old ones that no longer fit what we ought to be and the mission God has for us.

We give up our old names when we give up putting ourselves in first place in everything and take on humility.

We give up our old names when we deliberately show charity to those whom we have problems with.

We give up our old names every time we come to Mass and go to confession and be faithful in our marriages and holy in our families and friendships.

And we take up our new names and identities when we live as disciples of Christ in the world. For though God may take away Abram He will raise up Abraham!

And my brothers and sisters no longer shall you be called “a lost sinner without hope;” your name shall be “Christian,” and you shall be a son or a daughter of the heavenly Father of Abraham, if you keep the eternal covenant of the only begotten Son of God.

Scripture: Lectionary for Mass for Use in Dioceses of the United States – Confraternity of Christian Doctrine – Fair Use

Featured image found here – Fair Use