El Olam

 

When Abraham reproved Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech’s servants had seized, Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today.” So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?” He said, “These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well.” Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath. So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army rose up and returned to the land of the Philistines. Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. And Abraham sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines. (Genesis 21:25-34 ESV).

 

We see the next name of God revealed in our reading today. Abimelek, a local ruler, wanted to make a treaty with Abraham because, as he said, “God is with you in everything you do.” Abimelek played it safe and became an ally of Abraham rather than an enemy. At first glance, this may seem a minor incident in Abraham’s life, but at Beersheba we see that Abraham calls on the LORD as El Olam, “the Everlasting God” or “Eternal God.” The Hebrew word olam means “for a long time, always, forever.” El Olam thus reveals God as “the Everlasting God,” without beginning or end.

 

Understanding why Abraham would use the name El Olam in this circumstance is very instructive. Note that before encountering Abimelek, Sarah had given birth to Isaac, the son God had promised. Abraham saw that God was faithful to his promises from many years earlier. As a reminder that “the Everlasting God” keeps his promises, Abraham planted a tamarisk tree, an evergreen, at Beersheba.

 

The treaty that followed at Beersheba gives us an example of why Abraham and Sarah are praised in the “Hall of the Faithful” (cf. Hebrews 11). They did more than merely acknowledge with their words that God could be trusted. Their actions exhibited faith resulting in obedience to God, “the Everlasting God,” who keeps his promises. This should encourage us to do more than “talk” about living by faith. It ought to prompt us to behave like we are children of the God who is forever and desires to give us this forever life through the work of His Son, Jesus Christ.