#DailyDevotion The Lord God Of Israel Keeps His Promises
Lent day 13 Wednesday
Read Gen 21:1–21
Gen 21:1-6 The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. (2) And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. (3) Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. (4) And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. (5) Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. (6) And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.”
One promise down, more to come. One thing we can say about our Lord and God is he is a God of promises. Not only does the Lord make promises, he fulfills his promises. In today’s lesson we are to learn that. The Lord made a promise twenty-five years ago to Abraham. He would have an heir with his wife Sarah. Now that promise is fulfilled. We should think about that as we look into the promises of God. Sometimes they are long in coming. Indeed, God had made another promise to Abraham. His descendents would inherit the land of the Canaanites.
But first Isaac was born, then Israel, then Israel’s sons. Israel would have to spend another 500 years in Egypt growing into a multitude (another one of God’s promises) before he brought them back to take the land.
Another 1500 years would pass until another of God’s promises would come to pass. The seed through whom all nations of the world would be blessed. That promise was fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth. In Jesus of Nazareth, the Lord God became man. Through his suffering and death peace was made between God and man. Salvation was won for all people of all places and times.
The Lord has made you a promise. If you would believe, trust in him, Jesus, that he has indeed won salvation for you, you would have eternal life. On the last day when he returns (another promise) you would be raised from the dead to eternal life. Now, it has been almost 2000 years since the Lord made that promise and it may be another 2000 before he returns. But Jesus is gathering more children for Abraham from every nation, language and tongue. From our perspective it may seem like a long time. Yet we know from past experience and evidence from Scripture, the Lord keeps his promises. You can trust him to keep this promise too.
Heavenly Father, while we may grow impatient in waiting for you to deliver on your promises, may the fulfillment of your promises past increase our faith and our patience that we may rejoice in all the family you are gathering to Abraham in your Son Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.