"And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac."
What a glorious day that would have been! Sarah’s arms were finally cuddling this bundle of joy. The long awaited promised one had arrived, and now Abraham and Sarah’s house and hearts were filled with laughter—joyous laughter.
God had come to them many years before and given them the promise of a child, but what a hard promise to hold onto as the years passed by, and no child had come. All hope was lost. Both Abraham and Sarah were now past even the ability to have children. When an angel from God came and told them a child would be coming in the next year, Sarah laughed in unbelief. Why had God waited so long? Did He not know they were too old? It didn’t make sense that a loving God would hold off until now to give them the child He had promised so long ago, but that is just what He did. God was calling them into a deeper faith. He knew Abraham and Sarah believed in Him, but would they believe Him. God looked unfaithful, like He didn’t care, but our God has promised us, in the Scriptures, that He does love us, and that He does care. God had left Abraham and Sarah childless all these years so that they would know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He alone was able to provide this promise to them.
"By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised." Hebrews 11:11 It is by faith. Abraham and Sarah had literally spent their whole life doing everything they could think of to have this long awaited child. God is asking us to have faith. When all our doubting and striving have exhausted us, and there is nothing left but faith, our God will move. He wants us to walk by faith, not by sight.
Our God has promised to birth within us a life of joyous laughter with Jesus Christ. Are you exhausted trying to find that joy yourself? Do you think you are too old to change? Sarah was 90 years old when she received strength to conceive seed and bore Isaac. It is when we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God alone is able to give us new life, that the promised one will come. Pray and believe.
~ Debbie Frantz
