Read: Genesis 16-18
Focus Verse: “Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” (Genesis 18:13-14).
Devotion: God’s plan all along is to restore all of creation through Abraham. His descendants will spread through the whole earth and one day be used to restore all of creation. However, as they aged, Abram had faith, but Sarai faltered in her faith. She did not believe God would give her a child in her old age and decided to take matters into her own hands. Sarai gave Abram her slave so they could have children. This reflects the choice that had to be made with Adam and Eve. Do we trust God’s wisdom, or do we take matters into our own hands apart from God? Sarai decided to take matters into her own hands apart from God. However, despite the whole situation God still blesses the child of Abram and the slave Hagar, and also blesses Abram and Sarai still, giving them new names (Abraham and Sarah). This act of new names is a symbolic recreation of Abraham and Sarah, and despite the impatience of Sarah God’s plan was accomplished! Even if we are not faithful, God is! God’s plan to restore and redeem ALL of creation will NEVER be stopped. We can ignore or run, but that overall plan prevails. That’s the overall plan, at least thus far in scripture, that creations restoration and redemption is God’s plan.
Prayer: LORD our flesh may fail, but your spirit is strong in us. God we struggle to want to figure things out on our own often rather than walk with You and trust in Your timing. God help us to begin to trust in Your wisdom, and help us to be a part of Your plan, not aimlessly trying to do our own plan apart from You. Amen.
Additional scripture: “Anything is possible if a person believes.” (Mark 9:23)