What is the first Messianic prophecy of the Bible?
“No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5; compare Romans 4:17-18). What an astounding statement! God had a close relationship with Abraham and promised him his descendants would ultimately comprise many nations. God even changed his name from Abram to Abraham, meaning “father of a multitude,” to reflect the importance of this promise. God made many promises to Abraham. The patriarch had such a close relationship with God that a Bible writer called him the “friend of God” (James 2:23). Abraham’s descendants also received several great and far-reaching promises.
