Abraham was faithful and obedient to God. God told him that He would be “the ancestor of a multitude of nations” (The New Revised Standard Version, Gen 17.4). God told him that He would become fruitful and, from His off-springs, kings would rise. The Lord made a covenant with Abraham and his future generations. Circumcision of the males would symbolize the covenant.
Moreover, the slaves and those people bought from other lands who belonged to his household were to be circumcised too. Male children would be circumcised on the eighth day after their birth. Through circumcision, even the slaves and foreigners would also be enjoined in the covenant. On the contrary, any male who refuses to get circumcised “shall be cut off from his people: he has broken my covenant” (Gen. 17.14).
We must obey God and keep His word so that He can continue to be with us, and our future generations. He has promised to increase us and make us fruitful, but there is a condition, we must cut off everything that might make the Lord unhappy with us. We are His children, and His covenant with us is everlasting.
The Lord promised to give Abraham a son through Sarah, His wife at her advanced age. God would bless her, and through her son, the Lord would raise nations. Abraham was tickled by that news, and he laughed asking himself if his wife would give birth at her old age. Sometimes, we may laugh at the promises of God and wonder how they will come to pass because so much time has passed.
However, we should keep our trust in God because everything He has promised, he will bring to pass. Our day of liberation might seem to have delayed for long, but it will come to pass and we will rejoice. We should not get tired of trusting in God and praying. Moreover, we ought to remember that our way is not a God’s way. Abraham thought God would bless him through his son Ishmael.
However, that was not the plan of God, “No, but your wife Sarah shall bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac” (Gen. 17. 19). Therefore, we should be open to any way that the Lord chooses for our liberation. Moreover, we should take action and act upon the word of God like Abraham did and he had all the males in his household circumcised. The cutting of the foreskin would be a visible reminder of God’s covenant.
Just as God had promised, Sarah bore a son named him Isaac. She was old, but she nursed a child. God revealed His power in enabling an old woman to conceive and become a mother. He shall give us our freedom and we will be filled with joy. Those who feel sad and hopeless that our situation will not change should look at Sarah giving birth at an old age and be encouraged that nothing is impossible with God.
After Sarah gave birth to Isaac, she started to feel disturbed by the presence of Hagar and Ishmael. She requested her husband to chase them away. She did not want to see Ishmael playing with her son Isaac. She also did not want him to inherit anything from his father. She wanted to be the only heir with her son. Abraham had to send her away even though he was distressed about it.
Sarah might have despised Ishmael because she had her own son, but God did not despise him and because he was a child of Abraham. “As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also because he is your offspring” (Gen. 21. 13). Thus, even if you are despised and seen as unfit, God does not look at you that way. God loves you and He will honour His covenant to you.
God will overturn your misfortunes into blessings. After Hagar was sent away, she went to the wilderness of Beer-Sheba and her water ran out. She cried to God because she was afraid her son would die of thirst. God answers our cries and prayers as he asked, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is” (Gen. 21: 17). The Lord gave them water.
God was with the boy and made him a nation. We ought to depend on the Lord always and pray at our time of need because he will hearken to our prayers and send help to us. He did not abandon the chid of Hagar because she was a slave, but took care of him and he prospered.
Furthermore, God will protect you from your enemies or any person that rises against you. For instance, He protected Abraham’s well that Abimelech’s servants had seized. Remain hopeful in God and do not forget to pray; He will deliver you from your troubles, and keep His promises to you. Moreover, He will protect your property because He is an everlasting God and He will never changes.
Work Cited
New Revised Standard Version. 1989. Web.