A few days back I shared with you some verses on faith. We found that we can’t really please God without faith.
This morning I want to tell you the story of Abraham, a man who believed God’s promise, even though it took years to see it.
“ Everything depends on having faith in God, so that God’s promise is assured by his great kindness. This promise isn’t only for Abraham’s descendants who have the Law. It is for all who are Abraham’s descendants because they have faith, just as he did. Abraham is the ancestor of us all. 17 The Scriptures say that Abraham would become the ancestor of many nations. This promise was made to Abraham because he had faith in God, who raises the dead to life and creates new things.
18 God promised Abraham a lot of descendants. And when it all seemed hopeless, Abraham still had faith in God and became the ancestor of many nations. 19 Abraham’s faith never became weak, not even when he was nearly a hundred years old. He knew that he was almost dead and that his wife Sarah could not have children. 20 But Abraham never doubted or questioned God’s promise. His faith made him strong, and he gave all the credit to God.
21 Abraham was certain that God could do what he had promised.” Romans 4:16-21 CEV
Abraham was a man who put his faith and trust in God. The Lord told him to move from his homeland to a new land that was fertile and good. Abraham started the journey with his wife and his nephew and their servants. They came to the land of Canaan, the land that is now called Israel. Abraham was 75 years old when they started this journey and the Lord promised Abraham that his descendants would be a great nation and that everyone on earth would be blessed because of him.
Abraham and his family went through struggles in this new land. They faced famine and had to move to Egypt for a while and then they came back. Their herds became so great that they had to separate their flocks. There was quarreling between the two ranching operations but Abraham honored the Lord.
One thing was lacking however, Abraham had no children. His wife, Sarah, was well past the age of having children. She was post menopause but even more than that she had been barren. She had never had a child but God promised that Abraham would be a father of many nations. Sarah tried to help God out. She had Abraham have sexual relations with her maid servant. The maid conceived and had a son.
Whole new set of problems – jealousy, envy and resentment. All the things you need for a good soap opera!
Then at age 99 the Lord appeared to Abraham again and repeated the promise. This time there was a end date added to it.
“Abram was ninety-nine years old when the Lord appeared to him again and said, “I am God All-Powerful. If you obey me and always do right, 2 I will keep my solemn promise to you and give you more descendants than can be counted.” 3 Abram bowed with his face to the ground, and God said:
4-5 I promise that you will be the father of many nations. That’s why I now change your name from Abram to Abraham.[a]6 I will give you a lot of descendants, and in the future they will become great nations. Some of them will even be kings…
15 Abraham, your wife’s name will now be Sarah instead of Sarai. 16 I will bless her, and you will have a son by her. She will become the mother of nations, and some of her descendants will even be kings.
17 Abraham bowed with his face to the ground and thought, “I am almost a hundred years old. How can I become a father? And Sarah is ninety. How can she have a child?” So he started laughing…
21 But your son Isaac will be born about this time next year, and the promise I am making to you and your family will be for him and his descendants forever.
22 God finished speaking to Abraham and then left.” Genesis 17
Twenty-five years Abraham waited to see God’s promise completed. Twenty-five years he held on to the promise God had given him. Twenty-five years he hoped when all hope seemed gone!
How long have you been waiting for God to answer your prayer and keep His word? Have you waited 25 years? Maybe you’re about to give up – DON’T!
This is a verse that I put down on my cards.
“20 But Abraham never doubted or questioned God’s promise. His faith made him strong, and he gave all the credit to God.21 Abraham was certain that God could do what he had promised.” Romans 4:20-21 CEV
Abraham knew that if God said it, he could trust it to come to pass. This takes me back to my favorite verse (you knew I would quote it again, didn’t you).
“God is no mere human! He doesn’t tell lies or change his mind. God always keeps his promises.” Numbers 23:19 CEV
DON’T GIVE UP – DON’T QUIT – DON’T LOSE HOPE – STAND STRONG – THE PROMISE WILL BE KEPT