When someone makes you a promise, hope and expectation are usually high. I guess that during the period of waiting, it's only natural to keep looking for signs that indicate the promise is being kept. For Sarah, waiting to become pregnant had most likely been an experience fraught with feelings of sadness, as each month she eagerly looked for signs that she was expecting a baby as God had promised, but failed to see any. Sarah and Abraham had endured decades of disappointment but now with a specific time frame given, expectation would have reached new heights as they waited:
"Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." And she added, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.""
Genesis 21:1-7 NIV
Knowing the journey that Abraham and Sarah had been on over the years, we can better understand the words 'the Lord was gracious'. Had they always waited patiently? No! Had God forgiven them? Yes! God extended His wonderful grace (unmerited favour), to Abraham and Sarah. They were justified by faith, so despite the fact that at times, they had taken things into their own hands, God still lovingly fulfilled His promise.
Imagine Sarah's utter joy when she noticed the first signs of pregnancy! We don't have details but I can picture her face as she shared the news with her husband. I'm sure that there would have been shouts of praise and prayers of thanksgiving in response. The Lord had faithfully kept His word, as He always does! It may have taken many years, but our God faithfully delivered Isaac at exactly the time He had promised! We can be sure that His promises never fail!
The arrival of the promised son was not fulfilled because Abraham perfectly obeyed God, rather it was because God was faithful in keeping His Word! Sarah was so elated that she laughed and acknowledged the giver of this special gift she had received - 'God has brought me laughter and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.' Her words show that she couldn't wait to tell her family, friends and neighbours because she knew that they would be amazed too and share in her joy.
How these new parents must have treasured the moment they first held their son! Abraham gave him the name Isaac as God had commanded and also circumcised him when he was eight days old. At 100 years of age, Abraham knew full well that nothing was impossible with God and He always keeps His promises!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your faithfulness and for all the promises You have made to us that are yes and amen in Jesus! How wonderful, that as we think through the past few chapters of Genesis, we see more and more, how amazing Your love and grace is! Thank You that we experience Your grace daily —in spite of our sinfulness:
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 NIV
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 NIV
It's nothing that we have done:
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
Thank You that Your grace takes us through whatever is happening in our day to day lives:
""My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
Thank You that I can rejoice every day because You have been so gracious to me and I can be sure that the promises in Your Word still stand.
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
2 Peter 3:9 NIV
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
"For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see."
Psalms 36:9 NLT
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Light and Life for Today
No FicciónA daily devotional for your time alone with God. In an increasingly dark world, more than ever, we need to look beyond what we can see, past our present circumstances. In order to see the light and experience life as our Heavenly Father intended, I...
