Delayed Promise
Read Genesis 18:1-15.
When promises are delayed, they become harder and harder to believe. I know someone who made a promise to me several years ago, to follow through on something, and the more time has passed, the harder it is to believe that this person's promise will come true. Abraham (now renamed by God) is in the same situation. God made him a promise now many years ago. God promised a son, but we all know the biology. The older you get, the fewer the chances that a child will come along. (And Abraham was already 75 when the promise was made!)
This time, though, there doesn't seem to be doubt on Abraham's part. (Remember, every time he sees the stars, he's reminded of God's promise.) The doubt is all from Sarah (also renamed by God) this time. After all, she's not getting any younger, she's been barren all these years, and her womb doesn't seem to yet be able to produce children.
Abraham is resting by his tent in the heat of the day when he sees three strangers appointing. Verse 1 has already told us that "the Lord" appeared, and then in the next verse we hear of the three men standing nearby. This is millennia before the nature of God has been fully revealed; they have no idea what "Trinity" means. And yet, here it is, in living color in front of Abraham. God in three persons. Somehow, Abraham recognized that this was "the Lord" present in these three strangers, even if he didn't completely understand it.
The next several verses are a picture of ancient near eastern hospitality—a requirement, a duty, an essential if you were going to survive in the desert. You relied on the kindness of strangers, and so Abraham isn't really going out of his way here. This is what was expected. (Though it is always amusing to me, in our day and time, to think of Abraham saying, "Let me get this for you," as he runes to tell Sarah to make it all for them. But I digress...) Bread, fresh beef, curds and milk...and apparently these men just stand there while Abraham makes sure it's all prepared. How long did that take? It didn't matter. They weren't time-driven like we are. Hospitality—good, radical hospitality—was worth the time investment.
After the meal is over, the real reason for the visit is revealed. "You will have a son, this time next year." The promise may have been delayed as we understand and expect it, but it is still coming. You can still trust the Lord of the universe, Abraham. And so can you, Sarah, even though you are laughing over there in the tent. The promise will come true, even though it has been delayed to a time when you are worn out, Sarah, and your husband is old. If God makes a promise, it will come true.
What promises of the Lord are you waiting on? Every promise of the Lord will be fulfilled. Maybe not in the way we think it will be, and probably definitely not on the time schedule we set out, but every promise God makes in his Word will be fulfilled. Abraham and Sarah learned that through a long season of waiting, until the day when they finally held the promised baby in their arms. They were living witnesses to the fulfillment of a promise. Even though God may seem to be long in coming, he is always right on time.
Oh, and one of my favorite parts of the Abraham story? When the child is born (Genesis 21), do you remember what they named him? Yes, that's right—Laughter.
When promises are delayed, they become harder and harder to believe. I know someone who made a promise to me several years ago, to follow through on something, and the more time has passed, the harder it is to believe that this person's promise will come true. Abraham (now renamed by God) is in the same situation. God made him a promise now many years ago. God promised a son, but we all know the biology. The older you get, the fewer the chances that a child will come along. (And Abraham was already 75 when the promise was made!)
This time, though, there doesn't seem to be doubt on Abraham's part. (Remember, every time he sees the stars, he's reminded of God's promise.) The doubt is all from Sarah (also renamed by God) this time. After all, she's not getting any younger, she's been barren all these years, and her womb doesn't seem to yet be able to produce children.
Abraham is resting by his tent in the heat of the day when he sees three strangers appointing. Verse 1 has already told us that "the Lord" appeared, and then in the next verse we hear of the three men standing nearby. This is millennia before the nature of God has been fully revealed; they have no idea what "Trinity" means. And yet, here it is, in living color in front of Abraham. God in three persons. Somehow, Abraham recognized that this was "the Lord" present in these three strangers, even if he didn't completely understand it.
The next several verses are a picture of ancient near eastern hospitality—a requirement, a duty, an essential if you were going to survive in the desert. You relied on the kindness of strangers, and so Abraham isn't really going out of his way here. This is what was expected. (Though it is always amusing to me, in our day and time, to think of Abraham saying, "Let me get this for you," as he runes to tell Sarah to make it all for them. But I digress...) Bread, fresh beef, curds and milk...and apparently these men just stand there while Abraham makes sure it's all prepared. How long did that take? It didn't matter. They weren't time-driven like we are. Hospitality—good, radical hospitality—was worth the time investment.
After the meal is over, the real reason for the visit is revealed. "You will have a son, this time next year." The promise may have been delayed as we understand and expect it, but it is still coming. You can still trust the Lord of the universe, Abraham. And so can you, Sarah, even though you are laughing over there in the tent. The promise will come true, even though it has been delayed to a time when you are worn out, Sarah, and your husband is old. If God makes a promise, it will come true.
What promises of the Lord are you waiting on? Every promise of the Lord will be fulfilled. Maybe not in the way we think it will be, and probably definitely not on the time schedule we set out, but every promise God makes in his Word will be fulfilled. Abraham and Sarah learned that through a long season of waiting, until the day when they finally held the promised baby in their arms. They were living witnesses to the fulfillment of a promise. Even though God may seem to be long in coming, he is always right on time.
Oh, and one of my favorite parts of the Abraham story? When the child is born (Genesis 21), do you remember what they named him? Yes, that's right—Laughter.
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