September 30, 2022
The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” (Genesis 21:1-7) ESV
As we draw this month’s Devotional Thoughts to a close on the topic of Trusting God Alone, I would like to finish with Abraham.
Twenty-five years after God first promised Abraham that he would make him a great nation, He gave him and Sarah their first child. In Genesis 18:14 (a year before Isaac was conceived), God said to them, “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.”
This is the first time God puts a time period to the promise, and He fulfills it to the day. God wanted to be sure that everyone would realize that only He could do this; that man had no hand in it. Sarah was too old to have a baby. It was a God thing. Throughout the twenty-five years leading up to Isaac’s birth, God had been teaching Abraham faith lessons.
Isaac grew to be a fine young man, and then the day came when God put Abraham to the ultimate test. Then He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Genesis 22:2) ESV.
God asks Abraham to do the unthinkable. Why would God give and then take away? Isn’t that the first you would be tempted to ask if this happened to you (would be for me)? For any parent, this must surely be the ultimate test of faith. Do you think if God had fulfilled His promise to Abraham five or ten or fifteen or even twenty years after he left Ur that he would have been able to obey God? Do you think Abraham’s faith would have been strong enough to do this thing? I doubt it.
God’s timing is perfect. He is never a second too early nor a second too late. What was Abraham’s response? Yes, he obeyed immediately. Abraham knew that he could trust his God.
Friends, I hope that you have come to understand over this past month, particularly the last few days, that Trusting God Alone is a process. It is a journey. It is a life lived by getting to know God. It is the same with you and me. It is one day at a time. It is choosing as each situation presents itself to trust God rather than yourself or someone else. This is what grows faith – knowing God, knowing Jesus Christ, His Son, and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. I want to end with the same Scriptures we began the month with, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Would you pray with me?
Dear Heavenly Father, I bow before you. I lift my hands in praise and worship. I stand in Your presence and praise You for being my God, Who provides for my every need. You give me everything that I need. I can totally rely upon and rest in You. You will never let me down. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Encouraging Words: Be obedient with one small step, and God will give you the next step… and the next.
God Bless you, and have a Blessed Day, Friends <><
Thoughts by Randall Stapleton is a Daily Devotion brought to you by The Bridge - Learn more at https://wearethebridge.org
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