Genesis 17:19 "And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him."
In this 17th chapter, God has reaffirmed His promise to Abraham. Even after God
had promised a son through Sarah, Abraham felt Ishmael was to be that promised
son. He had apparent doubts when it came to which son would be the continuation
of God's covenant. He laughed at the idea that he and Sarah would be able to
have a son in their old age. He even suggested that Ishmael could still be that
one who would be the promised heir. "O that Ishmael might live before
thee!" (Genesis 17:18 ) I feel the need this morning to establish in
our hearts that God is faithful even in the midst of our doubts. I give
two New Testament Scriptures just now to affirm this. "Faithful is he that
calleth you, who also will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:24) And then
we read, "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny
himself." (2 Timothy 2:13) God's promises are true and faithful in
all circumstances.
The next thought that I have this morning concerns God being faithful in all
His promises even when it seems impossible to us. You and I are blessed to be
able to look back from the end result to the very beginning; but, Abraham was
walking by faith when those promises had not yet been brought about. We are
told in Hebrews chapter 11:13, " These all died in faith, not having
received the promises." Abraham was among that number. Yes, he lived to
see Isaac born to Sarah, but the promise of a nation being born from him would
come about years after his death. God's timeline is always perfect and He
is always right on schedule according to His timing, not ours. There is
no doubt that Abraham was a great man of faith, but he also had times of doubt
and impatience. I can identify with that. Can you? But I am
reminded once again of Paul's teaching, "Faithful is he that calleth
you, who also will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:24) Aren't you
thankful that God is faithful and all His promises are faithful and true?
I certainly am.