“When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram . . . And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”” (Genesis 17:1, 15–16, ESV).
God's covenant to Abraham was lavish. “I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.” (Genesis 17:6, NIV). Abraham was 99 years old. Lavish is was most certainly; but ludicrous by human standards. Sarai's name was changed to reflect this. "The name Sarai is changed to an alternative form, Sarah; both forms mean “princess.” [1] Abram responded in a unique way:
“Abraham fell face-down; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”” (Genesis 17:17, NIV)
"The verb tsachaq, from which the name Isaac (Yitschaq) comes. Abraham’s laughter—expressing both joy and surprise—suggests that his original faith expression in 15:6 was not based on a realization that Sarah would be the mother." [2] It is likely that Abraham struggled to believe the promise of God but in any case there is certainty that he didn't understand the full scope of the promise. "This is borne out by what he said in his heart and by his request to God that the promises might center in Ishmael. The expression O that Ishmael might live before thee! indicates Abraham’s desire that this son be the heir of the promise and that he adopt him." [3]
In the process Abraham utters concern for the well-being of Ishmael, his son by Sarah's servant and God promises to care for him. But the promised child of Isaac would arrive in a year. Abraham then in obedience to the covenant, circumcises himself and Ishmael.
It seems that in this story, Abraham believed God regarding his future family. Even at 99 he certainly trusted God. His incredulity seemed based upon the fact that it seemed impossible, if not unnecessary for Sarah to conceive when they already had a child. In other words, he believed God would do it -- HE JUST DIDN'T THINK HE'D DO IT THAT WAY!
Later, Isaiah the prophet would record, ““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9, NIV). And the Apostle Paul wrote, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” (Romans 11:33, NIV).
Father I am convicted today by the same trait of Abraham. I know You are the God of the impossible. You are stronger than the strong; mightier than the mightiest. There is nothing You can't do. But I am always shocked -- no I don't fall down in laughter -- but I am amazed because You don't do it my way. How many times have I told You how to answer my prayers -- how to bring Your promises to past? Oh what a fool am I. Father help me to trust Your plans and Your ways. “All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.” (Psalm 25:10, NIV). Amen.
___________________________________
1. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (80). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
2. Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ge 17:17). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
3. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (52). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
No comments:
Post a Comment