We started last week to look at the story of Abram. I had suggested that you take the time to read through his story. As I was reading further a couple things stood out to me.
We see that several times the Lord has promised Abram land and descendants.
Gen 13:14-17 “After Lot had gone, the LORD said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you”
Chapter 15 comes along and Abram shares a little frustration, disappointment. So far he and Sarai have had no children as was promised by the Lord. My words, “Lord you keep speaking of all the descendants I will have but one problem, Sarai and I have no son. No son, No descendants.”
Gen 15:2 15:2-5 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son?
Abram and Sarai are growing older and growing impatient. Time is running out in their ability to have children. Abram was worried that Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in his household, will inherit all his wealth. The Lord reassures Abram,
15:4-5 “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
Time keeps moving on for Abram and Sarai. I can understand their being impatient with wanting and waiting for a son to be born. Their being impatient gives birth to “urgency” to do something, anything when nothing seems to be happening.
16:1-2 “Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. 2So Sarai said to Abram, “The LORD has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal.”
Perhaps Abram and Sarai are thinking that the Lord is moving to slow on this. Sarai suggests a plan to Abram. What I find interesting is that the Lord does not intervene. He does not send an angel to remind them of the Lords promise to them. The Lord allows them to follow through on their choice to solve their desire for a son on their own.
I like this definition of impatient, “restlessly eager”. I believe that Abram and Sarai were restlessly eager to have a son. In the “natural,” they understood that the “time to conceive” was growing darker day by day for them.
If you have been following their story we learn of the birth of Ishmael and the conflict that arose in the family. Some have referred that Ishmael was the son, “born of the flesh” and not the son of promise. As we learn, he was not the son promised to Abram and Sarah. It wasn’t until chapter 21 that the Lord fulfills His promise to Abram and Sarai.
21:1-7 “The LORD kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. And Abraham named their son Isaac. Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born. And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me. Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”
I share their story to bring us today to what I wanted to focus on for this week, the word “impatient.” Do you ever become impatient waiting for the Lord? Waiting for Him to fulfill a promise? Do you feel time is running out? Do you become restlessly eager? Do you feel the Lord is moving to slow? Something had better happen soon or I will have to do something, anything. Gods timing and our timing do not always line up. His plan and our plan do not look the same.
My hope is to encourage you, not to grow weary while you wait. Do not grow impatient, become “restlessly eager” to do something, anything in your time of waiting. This is the place where Faith & Trust meet, waiting for the Lord to fulfill His promise.
Pastor Jeff
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