Thirteen years after Ishmael was born, the LORD appears to Abram to renew their covenant relationship. Among His declarations, God elaborates on the future of Abram's descendants, expands Abram and Sarai's sense of identity, gives Abram a covenant ritual his descendants are to perpetually practice, and makes one particular promise that will require and reveal God's wondrous power. I invite you to join me in this episode as we seek to understand these developments.

Frustrated by her barren state, Sarai comes up with a solution to help her husband produce an heir: she will give her slave girl, Hagar, to him as a surrogate. But when Hagar conceives, she grows contemptive of her mistress. When Abram supports Sarai's power and authority over her slave girl, Sarai proceeds to abuse Hagar. It is a dark and uncomfortable story. But when the LORD's angel appears, the story takes a sudden turn. I invite you to join me in today's episode as we explore how God is paying attention to even the little people.

When the LORD answers a concern voiced by Abram, Abram responds in a very significant way that signals Abram is ready to level-up in his relationship with God. So God initiates a ritual that has ramifications for the historical long game of Scripture's story. I invite you to join me in today's episode as we explore the ceremonial certification of the LORD's relationship with Abram, and what that relationship still means for us today.