Abraham was given a promise. Three times God spoke to him and reiterated the promise. Abraham had left his family, separated from his nephew, was living in a foreign land, waiting. Days turned to months; months turned to years. Abraham is aging. Sarah is aging and nothing seems to be happening.
Doubt began to rise. Did I hear Him correctly? Did I leave my family and friends for nothing? Fear was knocking at Abraham’s door.
So once again, for the fourth time within 9 years, God restates the promise. This time through a vision and a dream. “Do not fear Abraham. Do not give up. All of my promises for you are yes and amen. Keep believing. Your reward shall be great. Don’t try to figure this out in your mind. Yes, you and Sarah are getting older but I can and I will give you an heir from your flesh. Trust me.”
Has God given you a promise that has yet to come to pass? Has it been years of waiting? Have you begun to question what you heard? Have you been obedient to His promoting but are beginning to wonder if it were all for nought? Is disappointment, regret or fear knocking at your door?
Take heart my sisters and brothers. God has given you Abraham’s story to encourage you this morning. God is saying today, “Do not fear. The promise shall come to pass. Wait for it. Though it tarries. Wait. For I the Lord, your God am not a man that I should lie. If I spoke it, it shall come to pass. Do not diminish the promise by trying to make it fit into your logical thinking. Yes, it’s a grand promise, but I, the Lord Almighty, am giving you a great reward. I shall bring it to pass. The zeal of the Lord shall accomplish this.”
Believe my friends.
“After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.”
Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.””
Genesis 15:1, 4-5 NASB