Emotional Rollercoaster
Genesis 17: 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and
laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a
man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old,
bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said
to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!”
19 Then God said: “No, Sarah
your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will
establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with
his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I
have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful,
and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve
princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But
My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you
at this set time next year.” 22 Then He
finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
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Abraham experienced some strange requests from GOD. Leave
your family’s land without knowing where you are going was the first strange
request that Abraham obeyed. Rename yourself from Abram to Abraham was another
strange request because Abram was known.
Cut off your foreskin along with everyone in your household
was another strange request as a sign of human promise back to GOD. But now GOD
was telling Abraham that he would have another child.
My Observations:
- Abraham secretly said to himself “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”
- Abraham tried to steer GOD towards Sarai’s plan.
- GOD told Abraham when the child would be born, then left abruptly.
Abraham was probably on an emotional rollercoaster after
hearing the promise from GOD. He had believed everything said up to this point,
but how in the world would his barren wife have a child not? Abraham knew about
his ancestors. He knew that Shem lived six hundred years and had many children
well into his years.
But people around him were probably dying at an age younger
than one hundred. He too, may have felt the effects of getting older and
wondered if he would die soon. GOD, knowing Abraham’s persistence, told him “No”
in answer to his statement about Ishmael being the possible chosen child. GOD
left abruptly, possibly because of Abraham’s inquisitive nature. The answer was
final.
Challenge
- Why does GOD include the secret thoughts of Abraham in a conversation revealed to Moses?
- Has GOD told you a promise that seems to be taking a very long time to come to fruition?
- When GOD promises you something bigger than your imagination, how do you react?
