Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.
Today we are reading from Genesis 20-22 and Matthew 7. If you haven’t read them yet, pause this podcast, pray, read, if you’ve got time write down your own reflections, and then come back here for the rest of the podcast.
Okay, welcome back.
I want to spend some more time reflecting on the promise of God to Abraham, and in particular regarding the birth of Isaac.
We’ve already seen the promises of God to Abraham a few days ago in Genesis chapter 12, and then in chapter 15 and chapter 17 these promises are unpacked further.
[5] And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” (ESV)
Abram – who at this stage is old and without children – is promised to have innumerable offspring. This is why in chapter 17 his name is changed from Abram – which means ‘daddy’, to Abraham – which means ‘big daddy’.
How did Abram respond to these promises?
[6] And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (ESV)
Abram believed God, he trusted that God would fulfil his promise, and through his belief he is counted righteous before God – he is friends with God.
Abram was 75 years old back in Genesis 12 and his wife Sarai was 65 years old, and she was barren. Can you imagine receiving a promise that you will have a child in your old age?!? A little crazy!
And yet Abram had faith in God’s promises, and believed that they would have a child, who’d have a child, who’d have a child… and many descendants!
But 11 years later, we read that as an 86 year old in Genesis 16, that they still didn’t have a child. So Abram took things into his own hands. He had a son – Ishmael – by Hagar the maid servant. God effectively says, “nope, that’s not the child I promised! Keep trusting me Abram!”
By Genesis 21, from today’s reading, God has now given what he promised! While Abraham is 100 and Sarah is 90 years old, Isaac is born! This would have been crazy, they were supposed to be cruising the Mediterranean enjoying their retirement!
The events of the following chapter – Genesis 22 – take place some 5 years later. God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac.
Now, I’ve known this story from Genesis 22 for a long time. But it was the first time I read this as a father that the weight of it struck home to me.
Here is Abraham with his precious firstborn son of the promise. I remember reading this story from a kids bible with my own firstborn son in my lap and thinking, “Oh my goodness, Abraham has been told to kill his young son?!?!”
With tears in my eyes, and looking at my son, it struck me how bold Abraham’s faith was. What sturdy, steadfast trust in God he must of had had that he would so entrust himself to God. He finally has this son, now God is saying to kill him?
You can imagine Abraham processing this, “Well God I trust you! I don’t fully understand this, but I trust you! You must be the God of resurrection, who can raise this son of mine, and continue to fulfil your promises!?!”
As he goes to kill his son, the knife is about to come down, and God stops him!
The son is spared, a lamb is provided, God’s promises continue.
Let me conclude with the final paragraph of these events from that kids bible – The Jesus Storybook Bible,
“Many years later, another Son would climb another hill, carrying wood on his back. Like Isaac, he would trust his Father and do what his Father asked. He wouldn’t struggle or run away. Who was he? God’s Son, his only son – the Son he loved. The Lamb of God.”
Until tomorrow, keep trusting Jesus.