“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” – Genesis 17:1-2
This isn’t the first time that Abram heard of this covenant that the Lord was speaking about. When Abram was 75 years old, God was preparing him for what was to come. God told him:
“I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” – Genesis 12:2-3
But how long do we wait for what God has said to come to pass?
How long do we hold on to the promise and believe it will still happen, as years continue to pass by? – year after year?
Approximately ten years later, Abram questions God about who will inherit all that God has promised him, as he still remained childless. God again, confirms to Abraham that His word is indeed true and will come to be as He said it would, and Abram believed. This time God outlines the boundaries of the Promised Land that Abram’s descendants would live in – and there’s a physical contract – a covenant that happens with animals and a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch. And Abram believes, and he waits. (ref. Genesis 15)
At age 99, God confirmed His covenant again with Abram. This time God gives a sign of the covenant to Abram through circumcision as a physical remembrance of the everlasting covenant that was ordained through his bloodline. In addition, God gives him a new name. He changes it from Abram, meaning ‘exalted father’, to Abraham, the ‘father of many nations’. Abraham’s wife’s name would change from Sarai, which means ‘mockery’, to Sarah, meaning ‘princess’. (ref. Genesis 17)
Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 years old. Twenty-five years from the first time God spoke His promise over Abraham. While Abraham was waiting, God was working. And Abraham’s faith was tested (and Sarah’s too!) and through the waiting Abraham continued to believe that what God said would happen, would actually happen.
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (ref. Genesis 18:14). At the appointed time, their eyes were opened to how God’s plan was beginning to unfold. God reveals to both Abraham and Sarah that nothing is beyond His power or too difficult for Him.
God Almighty is El Shaddai. He works beyond what we see in the natural. And He is still revealing Himself today as El Shaddai. God Almighty! There is nothing too hard for Him to accomplish. What He’s said of us will come to be. So often I think we can give up when we don’t see Him move in the timing we want. We have a choice to trust Him while we wait on the promises He’s spoken over us.
Comentarios