George Ruheni, PhD.

God appears to Abram at age 99 In Genesis 17, God deepens His covenant with Abram by first revealing His identity as El Shaddai , the Almighty God, and the All-Sufficient One . Revelation precedes expectation. Abram is not first asked to be blameless; instead, he is reminded of who God is, overflowing in sufficiency, blessing, and faithfulness. Then follows the transformation: Abram becomes Abraham, signifying a new identity rooted in God’s promise rather than his own limitations. His new name carries destiny, father of many nations, before he even holds the child of promise. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you (Genesis 17:5,6). This communicates the principle: Revelation precedes responsibility. God shows us who He is before showing us what He requires. God renames before He fulfills, aligning...

  Sarai proposes a child for Abram through Hagar The pain of hope deferred can weigh heavily on the human soul. Proverbs 13:12 reminds us that “ Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. ” Waiting for unanswered prayers, and even the public shame that accompanies unmet expectations, can easily break one’s spirit. Yet, the real challenge is not the waiting or the pain itself, but the temptation to unbelief. When hope seems delayed, faith becomes the lifeline that sustains the heart. Trusting God, even when prayers appear unanswered. Trust in God brings inner healing and guards against despair.   Abram’s story in Genesis 16 illustrates how even the father of faith stumbled under pressure. Sarai, weary of waiting, reasoned that perhaps God’s promise needed human intervention. She urged Abram to father a child through Hagar. Like Adam, who listened to Eve without seeking God’s counsel, Abram listened to Sarai. This decision reflected human...

God speaks to Abram’s fears and doubts with a promise After Abram’s victory over a coalition of four kings (Genesis 14:13–16), there was a reason for concern. Spiritual or Military combat victory invites counterattacks, and Abram’s forces were significantly smaller compared to the armies he had just defeated. In that moment of potential anxiety, God appeared to him in a vision and spoke directly to his fear. After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward (Genesis 15:1). In Addition, God reassured him that He was his reward, after he denied a reward from the king of Sodom [Genesis 14:21-24]. This shows us how privileged we are, that God Himself is our reward.   A shield represents protection in battle. God assured Abram that he did not need to fear retaliation or any enemy, because God Himself would stand as his divine protector. But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my g...

  The rebellion of the five kings In the ancient Near East, small states and kingdoms united under a stronger king, forming confederations for protection or dominance. The confederations combined their armies, resources, and influence. The Bible records examples in the days of Elijah, Joshua, and even Jehoshaphat. Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon (Joshua 10:3). The alliances were not built on trust, but they were driven by power, fear, and survival. The same systems are replicated today, where nations and states form alliances (e.g., NATO, AU, UN Security Council).   Chedorlaomer’s Domination Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, was the strongest ruler in the region. Other kings became subordinate rulers under him, serving him for twelve years, paying tribute/taxes, and submitting to his authority. Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year, they rebel...

  Abram and Lot separate After leaving Egypt, which represented unbelief and compromise, Abram returned to the same place where he had first built an altar between Bethel and Ai. Egypt appeared like a solution during the famine, but it was a good idea, a self-directed choice. However, it was just another way that looked right to a man [Proverbs 14:12]. His stay in Egypt produced trouble and shame, lying about Sarai, risking her purity, and causing Pharaoh’s household to suffer plagues. Egypt symbolizes the world’s solutions; they may give temporary relief but lead to backsliding, fear, and setbacks. And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai (Genesis 13:3). Albeit leaving Egypt wealthy, in possessions [Genesis 13:2], he experienced spiritual loss. Time was wasted in terms of faith growth. Abram's return to Bethel symbolizes repentance, realignment with God’s will, and restoration, a...

  God’s promise to Abram God originally spoke to Abram in Mesopotamia [Acts 7:2–4]. Abram partially obeyed God’s call as he brought his father Terah and nephew Lot along, settling in Haran for about 15 years. God repeated the promise after Terah died, and Abram was ready to obey. This delay did not revoke the promise; it delayed its fulfillment. “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you (Genesis 12:1) . The reason being, God’s covenant with Abram was based on divine initiative, not human perfection.   The repeated use of “I will” in Genesis 12:1–3 underscores that the promise was unconditional and rooted in God’s faithfulness, not Abram’s flawless obedience. Abram is seen as a model of growing faith. He did not start as a father of faith, but matured into one. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I ...

  The Tower of Babel The descendants of Noah obeyed and multiplied, but disobeyed the command to spread out to fill the earth [Genesis 9:1]. They came together to build a great city and tower. In addition, their ambition was to reach God in heaven. Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. 3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth (Genesis 11:1-4). After the Flood, God commanded humanity to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. Instead of scattering, Noah’s descendants settled together in Shinar, a fertile and central plain (Babylonia/Mesopotamia...