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“God Almighty” here is El Shaddai in Hebrew which means “Great Mountain.” How might this name apply to all we know about Abram’s story so far?
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Think about the word “covenant.” What are some other words that have the same or similar meanings?
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We use the word “contract” today, which has many of the same connotations as covenant. What do you know about a contract? In what ways is the covenant or contract that God made with Abram the same or different from your knowledge of contracts?
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Why would God choose Abram/Abraham for this great covenantal honor?
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What was the purpose of the act of circumcision?
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Where else in the Bible do we see name changes?
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Why are names so important to God? Can you think of other times/places in scripture where names or naming are important?
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Have you ever felt as Abraham did when he bowed down in adulation/obedience, but laughed in disbelief? (vs. 17) What can we take away from this?
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Was Abraham confused, disbelieving, being sly or something else, when he asked God to bless Ishmael? What are your thoughts?
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Did anything stand out in your reading today that you could share with someone else?
