Jan 7 2009 Gen 18-19, Ps 3, Luke 7

Scripture
Is any thing too hard for the LORD? Genesis 18:14

Observation
It has been many, many years since God had first promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. The promise that had surely brought joy and hope to their hearts, no doubt as time passed also brought some stress and anxiousness. With every passing day, they must have believed less and less that it would actually happen.

I am not sure about Abraham but it seems clear from this passage that Sarah didn’t believe anymore. It’s not that she didn’t want to believe God, she just knew better. She knew her body. She knew it was not possible for her to conceive and even if by some miracle she could, how could she possibly carry the child, not to mention deliver it.

She had to be thinking…God means well, but I know better.

Application
The question that I keep asking through this entire story is why did God make them wait so long. He knew when Isaac would be born, so why not just appear to them right before they were to have a child? Why did He have to tease them for so long before it was time?

I hate to wait and when I am force to, I don’t do it well. So why does God make me wait? It’s one thing to have to wait on slow people, but I have a hard time thinking about God being slow.

The only conclusion I can come to is that it is for my benefit. In some way waiting is good for me. (I can just imagine my wife throwing this back at me the next time I am waiting on her for something). The scriptures are filled with references about waiting on the Lord.

I guess it is all about timing. There is a right time for everything and I must trust God not only knows what is best, but also knows when is best.

Prayer
Lord, this is an area that I really need your help. I don’t like to wait on anything or anyone…including you. I believe the lesson you are trying to teach me is simple. Faith waits. Lord, help me to learn this lesson….quickly!