ADVENT DAY 7: Dec. 7
Genesis 17:1- 5, 15-19; 18:1-5, 8b-15
Abraham and Sarah
17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
15 And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac.
18:1 The Lord appeared to Abrahm by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves . . . And he stood by them under the tree while they ate. 9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” 13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.” ESV
The God Who Keeps His Promises
By Ken Long
Abraham and Sarah's story is one of impossible promises made possible by a faithful God. When God told Abraham that he would
become the father of many nations, both he and Sarah were old - far beyond the age of childbearing. Both Abraham and Sarah even laughed when they heard God's promise (Genesis 17:17, 18:12). Yet, God's word prevailed. Isaac was born, proving that nothing is too hard for the Lord (Genesis 18:14). Their faith, though imperfect, pointed to something much greater than themselves. God's promise to Abraham wasn't just about one child - it was about a Savior who would bless all nations. Through Abraham's lineage came Jesus Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant.
Just as Isaac's birth brought joy after a long season of waiting, Jesus' coming brought eternal joy after generations of longing. Isaac’s birth was miraculous, but Jesus’ birth was divine—God Himself stepping into human history to redeem his people. Abraham and Sarah remind us that faith often means trusting God's timing when His promises seem delayed. The same God who kept His word to them is faithful to us today. Every promise in Scripture finds its "Yes" in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20).
So, when you find yourself waiting, doubting, or wondering if God still remembers His word, look to Abraham and Sarah - and then look to Jesus. He is the proof that God always fulfills His promises, even when it seems impossible.
Hebrews 11:12 (NIV) "And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky..."
Prayer:
God of Abraham and Sarah, thank you for your faithful servants of old who lived by promises that took time, seemed to come late, and even were not answered in their lifetimes. Expand my vision to embrace more of your eternal perspective. In Jesus who reigns forever. Amen.
