Maybe it’s happened to you
I was talking with a young person a few weeks ago. They introduced an older couple to me. I then made the classic foot-in-the-mouth mistake of asking, “Are these your grandparents?” To which the person responded, “No (you idiot!), these are my parents.” Haven’t seen them since.
As awkward as this was, it made me wonder if this ever happened to Isaac in the Old Testament. Think about it, Isaac is with his buddies playing soccer when old Abe walks up (100 years older than Isaac). One of his buddies asks, “Hey Isaac, is this your great grandpa?” “No (you shmuck!), this is my dad!”
It’s hard to imagine how Abraham must have felt to find out from God that he was to have a son so late in life. And not just any son, but a son who would begin the lineage of a great nation from whom Jesus Christ would eventually come. God promised that Abraham and Sarah would have children, even though they both were well beyond childbearing years.
Responding to the promise
We know that Sarah laughed when she heard the news (Gen. 18:12). But Abraham had a very different response…
Abraham did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. (Romans 4:20-21)
Abraham had the perfect opportunity to doubt God. At 99 years of age and having been waiting for the promise of a son, it would’ve been natural for him to get discouraged and say, “God has forgotten me! He failed to keep His promise! He has strung me along for all these years and I’m done trusting Him!”
That’s probably how you or I would have acted, but not Abraham. Romans 4:21 says that Abraham was…
…fully convinced that what God had promised He was also able to perform.
The words “fully convinced” in the Greek were actually used to describe a ship coming into harbor under full sail. This would be a ship with no engines to control or slow it, but coming in confident and fast. Not fearing rocks, or weather, or other obstacles. It’s a picture of a vessel bravely going where it was intended to go.
Bold adventures of faith
Abraham was so convinced of God’s ability to keep His promises that to him it was as sure as an absolute fact. Even though things in the natural were contrary to what was being hoped for, Abraham was strengthened in faith to believe for the impossible.
I just talked to a man yesterday who has been going through 15 years of storms and high seas. Some were no fault of his, while others were brought on by his own bad choices. As a young man he had several prophecies spoken over him about the Lord having great plans for his life. However, as the years went on he tried to run. But after 15 years of struggles, God has restored this man’s faith, and given him a “fully convinced” faith in what was promised. This man fully believes that the Lord is going to do all that He’s promised in spite of the delays. This is his favorite verse…
I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)
No matter where you’re at in life, and no matter what you may or may not be fully convinced of, God’s promises are sure! Be fully convinced of what God has promised and watch it play out in your live. Even if your response at times may have been like Sarah—laughing at the promises of God, it’s never to late to respond like Abraham—standing undeterred on the promises of God, and coming into the harbor under full sail!
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