Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. (Genesis 21:33)

For those raised in a “Christian” culture where theJudeo-Christian concept of God pervades our background, the default understanding is that He is everlasting. What’s to study about that? But like many things in our background, such things can become caricatures of God at best or meaningless at worst, without some considered reflection.

In this Yahweh-El combination, the English translations are evenly split in rendering the term “olam” as either “everlasting” or “eternal.” In English, the former has the sense of future time without end, whereas the latter includes time past, as in “eternity past and eternity future.” The Hebrew term can be used in either way depending on the context. The psalmist puts it this way: “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting (‘olam’), and to everlasting (‘olam’)” (Ps 41:13). Clearly God is eternal in nature, having no beginning or end (see Heb 7:3 for a similar statement about Jesus Christ’s eternality).

The context of our passage, Genesis 21:33, finds Abraham having a conflict with Abimelech, a king in Canaan. In those days, the land was composed of small kingdoms, which were essentially fiefdoms. Abraham had developed a relatively large and powerful entourage of family, servants and others who attached themselves to him. As is typical between rival powers, conflict arose—an issue concerning water rights, the ownership of a certain, strategic water source (Gen 21:25). In ancient times, water access was critical for the agrarian life and commerce.

Abimelech came to understand that indeed the well belonged to Abraham, and with Abraham’s goodwill gift, they made a formal agreement and parted company. Abraham attached great significance to this event, as seen by his calling on the “name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.” This area later became the city of Beersheba, situated on the southernmost boundary of the land.

Abraham had not yet established possession of the entire land promised by God, but he now had a toe-hold, having taken his place as a power to be reckoned with in the land. Permanence had to do with how long you could maintain military control over your land and property. Survival of the strongest was the rule of the day. Abraham, in a statement of faith, worshiped not just a regional god, like the Philistines around him. He believed that God was everlasting and was able to preserve him in the land.

Lord, trials and difficulties come and go. But You are an everlasting God, the same yesterday, today and forever. I trust in You as my eternal anchor.