Abraham

January 22

Genesis 17:1-5,15, and 18:1-10

God’s way in God’s time

When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord spoke to him again. He reminded Abram of His promise to give him many descendants and said, “Your name will no longer be Abram, but Abraham, because I am making you the father of many nations. You must no longer call your wife Sarai; from now on her name is Sarah.”

Later, the Lord again spoke to Abraham in the middle of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing there. He invited them to stay and brought them water to wash their feet. Then he hurried to the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick, bake some bread for our guests!”

Then, as Abraham served his visitors their meal, one of them said, “A year from now Sarah will have a son.”

Should I remind God of His promises?

Years had passed since God told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. Maybe Abraham wondered whether God had forgotten His promise. Abraham had already tried to make God’s promise work out in his own way by letting Hagar have a son. But somehow it wasn’t the same. It wasn’t the special way he expected God’s promise to happen. But God had not forgotten! In His time God brought about a miracle by letting Abraham and Sarah have a son in their old age.

God does not need to be reminded of His promises; but when we bring those promises to Him in prayer, we remind ourselves and show that we are patiently waiting, and trusting Him to do what He said He would do.

Verse for today

O LORD God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember the great love promised to David your servant. 2 Chronicles 6:42