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, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, “Behold my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 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. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.” (17:1-8)
It was twenty-four years prior to this, when Abram was seventy-five years old, that God made His first promise to him to make him into a great nation, blessing all the families of the earth through him, and giving him and his offspring the land (Genesis12:1-3, 7). Twenty-four years! Some years after the original promise, God promised offspring as numerous as the stars in the heavens (Genesis 15:1-6) and made a covenant regarding the land (Genesis 15:18-21).
When Abram was eighty-six, Ishmael was born.
When he was ninety-nine, God appeared again, establishing His covenant – this time, giving Abraham his part to do: circumcision. Abraham obeyed.
God had been promising, and “re-promising” descendants and the land to Abram for all these years. Abram needed patience. Because he trusted God, he was able to have that patience and to keep believing God’s promises to him.
We need patience – sometimes God will repeat and remind us of His promises in a variety of ways, but whether He does or doesn’t, we need to remind ourselves that God is trustworthy and will bring His promises to pass in His perfect timing. He is faithful.
Many of us haven’t experienced personal promises in the way that Abram did. However, the Bible is full of promises for us all: that as we make a priority of seeking God’s kingdom, God will provide for our needs (Matthew 6:25-33); that God is our refuge, our strength, and our fortress (Psalm 46); that God is with us even in our worst moments (Psalm 23:4); that God’s Spirit lives within us (1 Corinthians 3:16); and that Jesus is coming back (Revelation 1:7), to name just a few.
Reading God’s Word reminds us of God’s promises, and believing God’s promises will help us live our lives in a way that will be blessed.
Prayer: Lord, when I look at my circumstances and get discouraged, help me to look back at You, to remember Your Word and Your promises, and to trust You, for You are trustworthy! Amen!
