In the book of Genesis God makes some big promises to His servants, and even when they doubt Him, He fulfills those promises. After Hagar flees into the wilderness the angel of the Lord appears to her. Genesis 16 says,
“The angel of the Lord also said to her, ‘I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude’” (Genesis 16:10 ESV).
Hagar believes what God tells her and declares that he is looking after her. God does indeed fulfill his promise to Hagar, telling Abraham,
“As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly” (Genesis 17:20 ESV).
God also makes promises to Sarah and Abraham. He tells Abraham,
“’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.’ 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?’ And Abraham said to God, ‘Oh that Ishmael might live before you!’ God said, ‘No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac” (Genesis 17:16-19 ESV).
Sarah also doubts God’s promise to Abraham, Genesis 18 says,
“So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?’ The Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:12-14 ESV).
Unlike Hagar, Abraham and Sarah initially doubt God’s promises. However, He remains faithful and delivers on His word. It is a great comfort to me that God can be trusted to deliver on His promises even when people doubt, or even laugh to His face. Nothing is impossible with God, regardless of what people think of what He promises, and if He makes a promise, I know that I can trust Him to fulfill it. As I head into 2021, I want to remember that I can always trust in God to do what he says He will. God and His promises are constant, and a solid rock that I can plant myself on without fear.
Dear God, thank you that I can always trust in You and Your promises. As I head into a new year, please help me to keep my mind on You and Your word, and please help me to trust in You always. In Jesus’s holy name I pray. Amen.
Asher (AsherB)
Sixty-six books in a year 