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Readings: Genesis 12:1-9 + Genesis 15 + Genesis 18:1-15 + Genesis 21:1-7
With much of his story recorded in the book of Genesis, we get a front-row seat to Abraham’s life. Abraham’s story is rich in lessons on faith and obedience. But after waiting twenty-five years for the birth of Isaac, Abraham’s life can also give us some insight on how to wait well.
God calls Abram at seventy-five years old. I can imagine Abram’s life. He had a routine, a town and home he was familiar with, a community where he is known.
Despite his comfort, Abram follows God’s call, leaving home for an unknown land. God has promised Abram that he will be blessed, promising him land, nationhood, and that all peoples of the world will be blessed through him (12:1-5).
Abram trusts that God will deliver on his promise. So, he packs up his life and moves.
After he steps forward in faith, God provides Abram with more detail on how he plans to fulfill this covenant. God promises Abram a flesh-and-blood heir and descendants more numerous than the stars (15:4-5).
Abram, perhaps misunderstanding God’s promise, fathers a child through Hagar, the slave and servant of his wife Sarai (Genesis 16). After all, Abram’s 86 years old and sixteen years have already passed since God initially told Abram he would have many descendants.
I imagine Abram thinking, “I’m not getting any younger over here. Maybe I’m supposed to be making a move and helping this promise along.”
But Ishmael is not the son God had in mind (17:15-16).
Instead of punishing the family for taking matters into their own hands, God gives both Abram and Sarai new names (17:5, 15).
Renamed Abraham and Sarah, they are given a clean slate, forgiven of their past sins. God establishes the covenant of circumcision with his people, and Abraham responds in faith immediately (17:23).
Not long after Abraham and Sarah receive their new names, three visitors stop at their tent (18:1-15). One of the men tells Sarah he will visit again in a year, and in that time, God will give them an heir naturally from her womb with Abraham as the father.
When Sarah hears this, she can’t help but laugh. But sure enough, within the year, God’s promise is fulfilled, and Isaac is born (21:1-6). By now, Abraham is 100 years old.
Can you imagine waiting 25 years for a promise to come true?
In our instant gratification society, that amount of time seems unimaginable. (From where I sit, 25 years is more than half of my life so far). But Abraham and Sarah’s choices and interactions with God give us some insight on how to wait well.
Abraham often communicates with God. Through prayers, visions, visitors, and praise, God and Abraham have an open line with each other.
It is only through staying in communication with God that we can learn where he’s calling us. Periods of waiting don’t have to be periods of silence.
Abraham is honest with God. At times, Abraham will ask clarifying questions (15:2-3).
I don’t believe he asks these sarcastically (“and just how is an old guy like me supposed to have a child, hm?”). Instead, Abram is asking in faith for more information. He wants proof of the promise (15:8), just as we often ask God for a sign.
God knows Abraham’s heart and answers his questions with a deepening of the original promise. God gives Abram more information.
Abraham moves forward in faith, even if just a little. Waiting doesn’t have to be stagnant. Often, it’s the opposite.
God didn’t ask Abram to sit still for 25 years. He wasn’t passively waiting for God to deliver the goods. Instead, Abram was taking steps in faithful obedience. Even partial obedience (12:1-5) elicits a response from God.
And Abraham trusts in God’s timing. It was probably clear to Abraham early on that God’s timeline doesn’t look like ours. God had been talking to Abraham about an heir for 25 years before Isaac came along.
Abraham brought his concerns to God but ultimately knew that Isaac would come on God’s time.
It’s often only by looking backward and tracing our story that we can clearly see God moving. Advent, a season full of anticipation, expectation, and waiting, gives us a chance to practice waiting well.
Journal Prompt: Does God have you in a season of waiting? How are you waiting well? How have you waited in the past?
