Never too late
Genesis 25:7-8
Ever thought about how you hope to die? I’m not necessarily talking about your literal death; I’m really asking about how you intend to live until you die. What will be the condition of your mind and your heart when death comes for you? How will you spend your days prior to taking your final breath?
Willing to go
Genesis 24:57-58
In response to Eliezer’s prayer, the Lord directed Abraham’s servant to a woman from Abraham’s family clan—a woman of uncommon character who worshipped the one true Creator. And in addition to all that, she was pretty! All systems were a go, except...Would Rebekah be willing to travel 500 miles away from everything familiar to marry a complete stranger?
Confirmation
Genesis 24:12, 14
When Abraham was growing old, he knew it was time to find a suitable wife for Isaac. To accomplish the all-important task, Abraham called on his most trusted employee, Eliezer. This assignment was so important he would entrust it to no other man. “Swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac” (Genesis 24:3-4).
Travelling companions
Genesis 23:1-2
For the first part of their life together, Abraham and Sarah worshipped many gods. Then they received a visit from the one true Creator God, who said, in effect, “I have chosen you to become My models of faith. Through My relationship with you and your descendants, I will redeem the world from sin and evil.”
Beyond our expectations
Genesis 22:16-18
As Abraham and Isaac headed up the mountain, before Abraham knew how God would intervene, he assured his son that God would provide the sacrifice. And sure enough, God provided a lamb: “Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means ‘the LORD will provide’)” (Genesis 22:13-14). A more literal translation of the Hebrew expression Yahweh-Yireh would be “the Lord will see to it.”
The ultimate sacrifice
Genesis 22:1-2
Some years after receiving Isaac, as promised by God, the time had come for Abraham’s faith to be put to the supreme test. God is, of course, omniscient. He doesn’t put people to a test to see how well their faith responds under fire; He prepares tests of faith to show us what He has made of us lately.
Not alone
Genesis 21:16-17
When Hagar was forced to leave Abraham’s camp, she wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba, a region roughly 30 miles southwest of Hebron. Hagar, like most suddenly single parents, faced the challenge of having to survive alone, having to make too little provision cover too many needs, and wondering if God still cared.
Perhaps you’re experiencing a time in your life when you feel absolutely alone. Your future is bleak, and you can’t remember the last time you really laughed. Your soul is parched, and you don’t know where to turn.
Consequences
Genesis 21:10-11
Genesis 21 gives the account of a man whose previous sin now haunts him and harms the people he loves. The birth of Abraham’s long-awaited heir, Isaac, gave him and Sarah great joy, but their delight became tinged with regret.
Roughly 15 years earlier, they had tried to rush God’s plan. In their haste to receive the fulfilment of God’s promise, they schemed to have a son on their own terms and according to their own timing. So Sarah’s Egyptian handmaid, Hagar, gave birth to a son named Ishmael—a child of Abraham, but not the long-awaited promised child.
Unanswered prayers
Genesis 21:7
Long after Abraham and Sarah had given up hope of experiencing this joy, they held their very own son in their arms. It would have been easy for them to lose hope when the fulfilment of the promise didn’t come about in the way or the timing they expected. But their trust in the Lord went deeper than their human perspective, deeper than their doubts.
As I look back on my life, I recall many prayers I’m thankful the Lord chose to set aside. He gave me instead what I needed. And what He gave brought me even greater long-term happiness and more deep-down joy.