God's Promise and Long Waits

This morning I felt like I should read from the Book of Genesis, specifically about Abraham, and God's promises and covenants with him.  There are many things to learn from his story, but today the thing that stood out to me was the time between God's promises and the fulfilment of those promises.  Abraham was 75 years old when God told him to leave his people and go to the land he would show him (Gen 12:1-4).  God also told him that He would make Abraham into a mighty nation. In Genesis 15, God reiterates His promise to Abraham and this time is more specific, saying that a son of his own flesh will be his heir!  This was after a year of craziness, as they had to go to Egypt to escape the famine in the promised land, as well as deal with Sodom and Gomorrah.  At this point Abraham is 76 years old and Sarah his wife is 67 years old.

After they resettle in the land, they wait another 10 years but no children are born to Abraham and Sarah.  At this point they try to figure out God's plan on their own, and Sarah figures Abraham should just sleep with her slave Hagar, who became one of Abraham's wives (Gen 16:1-4). Their plan was immediately successful, but Ishmael was not the son of the promise nor the covenant, but was the son of human effort. Over the next 13 years Ismael grows, and Abraham grows older.

Finally, after 24 years from the first invitation from God, He speaks again and tells Abraham, who is now 99, to circumcise all the males in his household, even Himself (Gen 17:1-3).  It is at this time that the Lord, once again reiterates His promise, and tells Abraham that Sarah will have a son by this time next year (Gen 17: 15-21).  Abraham thought it was funny, as it just didn't make sense in the natural, for he was 99 and Sarah was 90 years old.

Within the year, as foretold by God in verse 21, Sarah had given birth to Isaac. So in total Abraham waited at least 25 years from the original promise to seeing it miraculously fulfilled by God.

I guess my encouragement this morning is to not give up on the promises of God, regardless of how long ago they were spoken, nor how impossible they seem.  It is interesting that it might have been physically possible for Sarah to give birth back when Abraham first heard that promise.  Every year of delay made it less and less likely, yet God was able to do what He said He would do. I am encouraged that God was revealing part of His character here, that He is faithful and His word is true.  His fulfilment doesn't always take on the form, nor timing that would make sense to us as humans, and that is perfectly ok.  He is God and He is Faithful.

So, whether you have been waiting for 25 years or more, or the way God appears to be moving makes no sense to you,  wait on the Lord.  He will show you the perfect fulfillment oh His promises.