What is the significance of the letter added to Abram and Sarai's names?
The added letter H in Abram and Sarai's names signifies grace. It is the Hebrew alphabet letter that refers to grace, so changing Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah implies the grace of God. This name change marks God's gracious promise, not human effort or the flesh.
Les explains that the H difference in Abram and Abraham is the letter of the Hebrew alphabet that refers to grace, and the same change applies when Sarai becomes Sarah. The grace of God is therefore implied by changing both names. This occurs in Genesis 17, where God says Sarai shall be called Sarah, promises that she shall be a mother of nations, and says she will bear a son. Abraham laughs and reverts to fleshly reasoning, asking that Ishmael might live before God, but God refutes him and insists that Sarah his wife will bear Isaac, with whom He will establish an everlasting covenant. Les notes that every 'I will' from God is a promise, so Isaac becomes a promised son.
And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
More Questions
What does the change from Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah signify?
The Hebrew letter difference between Abram and Abraham, and the change from Sarai to Sarah, refers to grace, so God's grace is implied in those name changes.
What change did God make to Sarai's name in Genesis 17:15?
God also changed Sarai's name to Sarah in Genesis 17:15, doing the same thing as with Abram by adding the letter H.