Today’s Reading: Genesis 17:9 – 18:15, Psalm 69
Although it is not always easy, there is joy in resting instead of resisting. Abraham loved his son, Ishmael, and he asked God to fulfill His promise through this son. God had something different, something better, for Abraham but it was beyond Abraham’s comprehension. God promised to confirm His covenant in about a year, through a son born of Sarah who would be named Isaac.
IT REQUIRED FAITH FOR ABRAHAM TO ACCEPT GOD’S WILL IN GOD’S WAY IN GOD’S TIME.
Three men appeared to Abraham one day to once again confirm God’s promise of a son born to Sarah (possibly the Lord and two angels). Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent and laughed silently to herself saying, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master – my husband – is also so old?” (18:12)
The Lord knew Sarah’s doubts without the need for her to speak them out loud. He knew that pregnancy at her age was a preposterous thought for Sarah. So while Sarah focused on the impossibility of the words being spoken on the other side of the tent wall, God was focused on the amazing thing He was about to do in Sarah’s body as well as in her heart.
Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” – Genesis 18:13-14
We may need a reminder this morning that what is impossible for us is possible with God. Perhaps January is a good month for us to rest in the declaration that nothing is too difficult for God.
WHAT WOULD LIFE LOOK LIKE IF WE SURRENDERED OUR IDEAS OF WHAT GOD CAN DO TO THE GOD WHO CAN DO ANYTHING?
O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you. — Psalm 69:5
Sarah struggled in her faith but she did not stay in that struggle. In fact, it is possible that Sarah always looked back with regret at her initial response to God’s promise and to the mess she made when she tried to force God’s promise through her servant, Hagar. But she did not stay in the struggle to believe or the shame of her mess. Listen to what the writer of Hebrews says about this woman loved by God.
It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead – a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them. – Hebrews 11:11-12
One of my prayers for the last few years has been for God to reveal His mercy to me so that I would understand what true mercy is, and also so that I could recognize the presence of mercy in my life. And God has been faithful! There have been situations where I clearly saw the mercy of God at work in my life. And there have been moments when I recognized the need to extend mercy to someone else, just as God has so graciously extended His mercy to me. My response can be defined as merciful when I react in an unexpected way, or when I choose to treat someone with a love that is unmerited by their actions or attitude towards me.
PERHAPS GOD IS CALLING US TO A YEAR FULL OF MOMENTS OF MERCY.
This morning, I recognized a moment of mercy right here in Genesis 17 — that God would give Sarai a new name and pour out His blessings on her, even after she had tried to manipulate the fulfillment of His promise. From now on her name would be Sarah, and she would be called the mother of nations.
Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful.
Take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful. — Psalm 69:16
The story of Sarah’s struggle to believe and God’s compassionate mercy continues to impact lives today. If God’s promise was to give Sarah a son when she was 20 years old, how much faith would have been required? If she was found to be with child soon after marriage, God would not have received the glory for the miracle of Isaac.
What a great reminder to start off my day! With a hot cup of coffee on this beautiful morning and a word from the Lord, I’m eager to face what is ahead. All of the HOW questions rattling around in my brain have the same answer – God’s will, God’s way, and in God’s time.
El-Shaddai, I place my day in your hands.
God Almighty, I place my life in your hands.
Sovereign Lord, I let go and let you decide what happens from here.
I long to experience your will, your way, in your time. Amen.
The humble will see their God at work and be glad.
Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged. – Psalm 69:32