FEB 27
Genesis 21:1-8
Memorise 2 Peter 1:3-4
“And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and did… as he had spoken”

When Abraham was 75 years old, God first appeared to him and promised that He would make of him a great nation. In order for that to happen, Abraham knew he had to have a son. In the years that followed, God never wavered on that promise, and continually assured him that it would be a son from him and his wife Sarah, though she was well past child-bearing age. Now, at the age of 100 (and Sarah at 90), the promise was finally coming true. “The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age” (Genesis 21:1-2). This was certainly a miracle of God, and the result of Abraham’s faith in God. Thus Sarah bore a son, and called him Isaac, in accordance to God’s instructions (Genesis 17:19). The name Isaac means ‘laughter’, and would remind them of how both Abraham and Sarah doubted God and laughed when told that she would have a child (Genesis 17:17, 18:12). Yet it would also remind them of the joy that they have, in having a son at such an old age, for Isaac was indeed a blessing from God!

In having this son, it was both a testimony of Abraham’s and Sarah’s faith in God, and also of God’s goodness in keeping His promises to them. We can read more of Sarah’s faith in Hebrews 11:11: “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised”  We also see Abraham’s faith being explained in Romans 4:18-20: “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God”. For both of them, it was by faith, that they believed in God’s promises, and God blessed them for it.

Indeed the God whom we worship is the same God as Abraham and Sarah. He has certainly given us many great and precious promises in His Word (2 Peter 1:4). We must believe them by faith, to be assured that God does indeed keep His promises, and will always take care of His children.

Thought: Has God ever failed us?

Prayer: Lord, may I have the faith to believe that I can cast all my cares upon Thee, for You care for us.