“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.'” Genesis 17:1
The specific revelation of God to individual men came, according to the Scriptures, not by chance, or in a way that was not according to the wisdom and purpose of God, but for the primary purpose of revealing His glory to men, and to all creation. The revelation of the glory of God is always that unveiling of His nature, purposes, and ways, in order to bring men to worship Him in Spirit and truth. Why? It is in the response to God’s revelation by worship, and service, that God reveals Himself not only to the believer, but in and through him. This is born out, and declared, by the Lord Jesus when He spoke of oneness with God, that blessed union with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit when the unsaved sinner believed in Christ and was born again. This is a mystery, how the eternal God, could come into the hearts of men to save them, cleansing them from all sin towards God, and making of them new creations in Christ, each one Christ’s masterpiece, transformed and changed into His image as the Holy Spirit works in each one.
When God revealed Himself to Moses, and the people of Israel in Egypt, it was, not only by His miraculous works, but first of all by His name: ” I AM THAT I AM.” (Gen. 3:14) Why did God reveal Himself to them in this way, and at that time? Israel, as well as Moses, with the demands upon them of believing God for His saving work from the bondage of Egypt, delivering them from the tyranny of Pharoah, and bringing them into the promised land, needed this specific revelation of God for their overcoming faith. Before them stretched an unknown path, and they were helpless to walk it. To follow Christ in such a saving manner, faith would need to lay hold upon the God who had called them. In God’s name, “I AM THAT I AM,” He laid the basis for faith, an eternal, unmovable stone, so that faith could lay hold upon Him for all that was before them which would oppose and resist them. The eternity, and unchanging, power and authority of God in Christ was revealed to them, an authority greater than all that which was of earth and of men, which would manifest itself not only by God’s promise to be with His people, but to protect and provide for them. He was declaring that He was their WAY, TRUTH, and LIFE, and that eternally. The revelation of His nature was the same as we read in the New Testament, when in Epistle to the Hebrews: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (13:8)
When Abram, later named Abraham, was ninety-nine years old, God revealed Himself specifically to him by declaring that He was “Almighty God.” Abraham was not in the same circumstances as the children of Israel in Egypt; however, he was called to believe God in the same way as Moses and the people. At this time in his life, when he was old, the revelation was specific to his need, and according to God’s purposes and wisdom. The call of God to faith was now two-fold, the first being the necessity to walk before God Almighty, and this blamelessly.
Secondly, the call that encompassed all that Abraham was and was to become was one which could only be realized by the vision of the Almighty God for whom nothing would be impossible. Abraham’s call was at the same time for the present and future. Abraham needed to see that the God who had committed Himself to him, with all His power and authority, was greater than all that Abraham understand, see, or know, ask or think. God’s perfect faithfulness would become Abraham’s sole object of trust, and obedient faith. Abraham was called to believe God for that which God alone could and would faithfully accomplish.
Dear Father, Show us Your power. In Jesus’ name, Amen.