144 Genesis 17A Changing of Names

This is the first of two episodes on this chapter. Abram is now 99 years old and invites him to be faithful and live a blameless life. The word blameless is not the same as what we understand as perfect. It is to be understood in relational terms rather than transactional terms. God declares a covenant or promise with him that he will be the father of a great nation with countless descendants. As a result he changes his name from Abram to Abraham meaning father of many. God assures him that He will be his God and the God of his descendants.