After weeks of studying how Abraham’s life has been a model for us to live by, we have reached the conclusion to this series.
In week one, we got a brief overview of Abraham’s life.
Week two, we learned the purpose of Abraham, which was to be the founding father of the Jewish nation.
Week three, we noted that Abraham was chosen and appointed by God.
And last week, we highlighted the fact that God is a promise keeper and when we ask anything of Him, we first must have faith in Him.
Our topic for this week is waiting, and we will explore it in the context of Abraham’s life.
In His Time
We know that God has the ability to grant our request according to His will for our lives.
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
Genesis 18:14 NIV
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
Romans 8:28 NLT
It is not a matter of IF God can do something. But it is a matter of WHEN He will do it.
Abraham waited thirty-five years for the promise of his heir (Isaac) to manifest. The Israelites left Egypt after four hundred years of bondage. It took forty years for the people to cross the Jordan River and reach the promised land after leaving Egypt. It took a little more than a decade for David to transition from being anointed to being officially crowned king. After a period of exile, the people of Israel finally returned to their cities. The Lord Jesus Christ rose in three days.
There are many other references to time in the bible. But God is strategic in His timing of things.
“A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day,”
2 Peter 3:8 NLT
“For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours,”
Psalms 90:4 NLT
God does not operate out of time, for He created time. So, we cannot measure God according to time. For the Lord operates outside of it. He is in the past, present, and future all concurrently.
So, we must simply put our faith in God and His will for our lives. For the Lord is never late in fulfilling His promise. And shall fulfill every promise He has made.
“The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance”
2 Peter 3:9 AMPC
Wait on the Lord
“Hope in the Lord and keep His way”
Psalm 37:34 NIV
“Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God”
Psalm 38:15 NIV
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord”
Psalm 27:14 NIV
Thirteen years had passed since the Lord first spoke to Abraham concerning Hagar and Ishmael to when God gave him the promise of his son Isaac and the covenant of circumcision.
The bible said that Abraham laughed to himself and said, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” (Genesis 17:17 NIV).
Abraham thought he was past the time for God to perform the promise. He thought because of his and Sarah’s age that they were counted out. Abraham even asked if the promise could fall to Ishmael (Genesis 17:18). But God affirmed what He was going to do for Abraham by upholding His promise to him.
Sometimes we think since we’ve waited so long, that God has forgotten us or His promise to us. But God hasn’t forgotten and always has a bigger purpose at hand.
And although Abraham had Ishmael, that wasn’t the son under the covenant/promise the God had given him. Isaac was.
But although Ishmael was not factored into Abraham’s and Sarah’s life originally. It was factored into God’s plan. The Lord told Abraham, “For Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too” (Genesis 21:12-13 NLT).
Nothing in your life is counted out by God. No detour, shortcut, side street that we take or end up in life takes God by surprise. God has already accounted for it. God knows where we are at currently and has already seen ahead of us.
Our God is so merciful and thoughtful. For, our mistakes and hastiness do not disqualify us from the promises of God.
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and will heal their land”
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
We know that the Lord shall fulfill His promise, so our confidence and hope should be in His timing. And we can’t get weary in welldoing because God’s promise still stands and there is a harvest waiting for us if we don’t quit. (Galatians 6:9).
Abraham demonstrated through his faith that he never doubted God and never wavered in his faith. And no matter what things look like, God’s word still stands.
So, always seek the Lord and put your faith, hope, and trust in Him. For He will never fail you, as we have seen by looking at Abraham’s life. Y’all have a great week and don’t forget to uplift, inspire, enlighten , and, more importantly, encourage somebody. Share this post with someone and if you have any prayer request or just want to chat, then you can submit them here.
