A Simple Change
Today is Christmas Eve, and many will be discussing Jesus’s birth and the salvation that comes from Him. While this is very much needed, I recently learned something regarding Abraham, Sarah, and God’s grace. The section of scripture that we will be looking at today comes from two verses.
“5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.”
Genesis 17:5
“15 Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.”
Genesis 17:15
These verses may seem strange to discuss when so many others are focusing on Jesus, which is what we should be doing. However, many don’t realize that Jesus is found even in these two verses, and it comes from a simple change. In these two verses, we see Abram become Abraham, and Sarai become Sarah. Unless you understand the biblical meaning behind the numbers, you wouldn’t see God’s grace in this change. In both names, the fifth letter is changed, and ironically, it is the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet that is added; in English it is “H” but in Hebrew it is “HEH”.
Why is this important? It is because of what the number five represents. In Hebrew, every number has a meaning associated with it. If you followed along with our study on gems, you know that other things also have meaning associated with them. In this case, the number five represents “grace”. Have you caught on yet? In these verses, God is already declaring His grace is needed to change humanity. To prove this, look at the meaning behind “Abram”, “Abraham”, “Sarai”, and “Sarah”. Abram means “a barren man”, and Abraham means “the father of many nations”. Sarai means “contentious”, and Sarah means “princess.”
Look how significant a simple change is! So, for this Christmas season, I ask you, have you made a simple but impactful change in your life? Have you accepted that Jesus came to earth fully man and fully God, that He was born of a virgin, that He lived a perfect life, that He was crucified and died for your sins? If you can accept this, you too will receive God’s grace and be made into something brand new.
Seek the truth and encourage one another,
Alex