Believing God No Matter What

Mention the name "Abraham" and some of us immediately recall the story of his childlessness and the miracle of the birth of Isacc when Abraham was 100 years old, and his wife, Sarah, ten years younger. We can recall the times God visited with him and the promises He made and reminded Abraham of at different times over a 25-year period. Despite faltering with the humanly-contrived plan that resulted in the birth of Ishmael through Hagar, Sarah's then servant, the Genesis writer affirmed that when God told Abraham that his seed would be like the stars in the sky, Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6). It is a wonderful story of trusting God in the face of impossible odds.

While it is evident that God fulfilled His promise to Abraham, it is easy to forget Sarah. About thirteen years before the birth of Issac, Sarai, as she was known then, being incapable of conceiving a child, had agreed to allow a marriage of convenience between Abram, as he was known then, and Hagar. When Hagar "saw that she had conceived, her mistress [Sarai] was despised in her eyes" (Genesis 16:4. KJV). As if the stigma of being barren wasn't shameful enough, bible scholar Matthew Henry notes, "[Hagar] looked scornfully upon her mistress, upbraids her perhaps with her barrenness, insults over her, to make her to fret (as 1 Sam. 1:6), and boasts of the prospect she had of bringing an heir to Abram, to that good land, and to the promise. Now she thinks herself a better woman than Sarai, more favoured by Heaven, and likely to be better beloved by Abram; and therefore she will not submit as she has done." It is no wonder that after Sarai complained to Abram, and his indifference to what she would do with Hagar, Sarai dealt harshly with her and she fled from her face (Genesis 16:6).

However, God's plan for Abram included Sarai, even though she did not know how. Her feelings were hurt and she needed her own comfort from God. After all, she was well past childbearing age, so much so that when the LORD repeated the promise of a son, she laughed and pondered at the impossibility (Genesis 18:12). The LORD told Abram of her reaction and said, "Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son" (vv. 13, 14). In the fullness of time, the narrative continues, "the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him" (21:1-2).

What is the application for us? Go ahead and read the verse as follows: "And the LORD visited [me] as He had said, and the LORD did unto [me] as He had spoken." That could be your testimony. He is the same today as He was back then. Whatever the situation, believe God. His promises can often time look impossible in the face of our realities, but our realities are no match for His awesomeness. He will visit you as He has said; He will do unto you as He has spoken. Just ask Sarah.