Child of Promise: Isaac

“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… Abraham gave him the name Isaac.” -Genesis 21:1-3

God’s timing is not always our timing.  There were many times in my own life when I wished God would just hurry up already!  Today is my 46th birthday.  I can’t help but reflect on my life and the ways God has been faithful to keep promises.  I prayed for decades for a husband and family.  God was faithful to those promises, just in a different order and much later than I expected.

Abraham and Sarah also experienced God being faithful to promises much later than they expected.  The child God promised was given the name “Isaac” which means “laughter”.  This baby brought joy and hope to them in their old age.  Perhaps part of the waiting for fulfillment of those promises was to show them that what they were given was not of their own making.  It was a miraculous gift from God’s own hand.  When we try to take matters into our own hands we often mess things up and create more chaos than solutions.  There are times we simply need to be still, wait upon the Lord, and trust that God is still faithful to keep promises.  This is no easy task, however.

In those moments of doubt and discouragement, we need our brothers and sisters to remind us that God continues to be faithful.  We need only to reflect back on our lives and see how God’s hand was moving and working in the past, and trust that to be true today.  And when we become impatient, taking matters into our own hands, and make a complete mess of things, God is still faithful, creating a new way forward.

This week consider the questions: When have I seen God fulfill promises? When have I trusted God to provide?

Holy God,  Each name for you in scripture and song tells a story of what you have done for us.  We confess that we limit ourselves to a few names, a few stories, and only a few memories.  We confess that we forget all the different ways and times you have shown us mercy and grace.  We confess that we don’t spend enough time remembering your promises which give us comfort in our present struggles and hope for the unknown future.  Forgive us, Gracious One, and help us to remember your faithfulness to your covenant this day and always.  This we pray in the name above all names, Jesus our Lord.  Amen.