Genesis 17-18

Genesis 17:1

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old…” Ninety-nine! Abram was old. Even by cultural standards of that time, he was old. Twenty-four years have passed since Abram received the call to move to this previously unknown land. Thirteen years has passed since the birth of Ishmael, Abram’s son, born by Hagar, Sarai’s slave. Why so long, Lord? Couldn’t God have fulfilled this promise earlier? Did Abram delay his own blessing because of his actions up unto this point? Was this timeline always God’s plan? We don’t know the specific answers to these questions. Yet, we do know from scripture that God sometimes takes awhile to fulfill his promises while expecting us to remain righteous in the meantime. 

Speaking of timing, Ishmael would’ve been thirteen years old. Abram was possibly preparing to find him a wife so that his lineage would continue through Ishmael. Up until this point, God has not corrected Abram about this decision to birth a son through Hagar. Yet, it is only now, when Abram is so close to fulfilling his desire for legacy, that God shows up. God essentially tells Abram that he is going to have to wait almost 14 years before he could have a son to marry off and continue his lineage. 

God cancels Abrams original plan. It is not until this plan dies, that God gives more details. Sometimes, our plans have to die, so that we can receive God’s plan with no distractions. God shows up to Abram, not once, but twice within a short span of time. Not only does God show up, He comes with a covenant. God is still willing to be in a covenant relationship with Abram even after he has sinned. What a gracious God we serve.

It is Abram’s responses to God’s presence that I want to focus on today. When God shows up in Genesis 17 and tells Abram that He will multiply him greatly, Abram’s first response was reverence. “Then Abram fell facedown and God spoke with him.” (Genesis 17:3)  When God visits in Genesis 18 it says, “When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, bowed to the ground…” From them on Abram doesn’t stop running until the meal is prepared for the Lord and the accompanying angels. Abram, ninety-nine years old, wealthy, with plenty of clout, is running around in servitude to the Lord. Would you have done the same? 

There is so much humility in Abram’s actions. He recognizes himself as a servant to the Lord. Paul and Timothy refer to themselves as “servants of Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 1:1) Jude the biological brother of Jesus calls himself a servant of Christ. (Jude verse 1) If Abram, Paul, Timothy, and the brother of Jesus consider themselves servants before the Lord, do you? Do you run and do as soon as the Lord gives you an instruction? Or is it optional? When God shows up, is there heartfelt reverence? 

God may have taken 25 years to fulfill the promise of Abram having a son, but when God shows up, Abram doesn’t have an attitude. Abram bows down in reverence. Abram is in awe of God’s presence. Abram obeys immediately. Let’s wait patiently and righteously before the Lord until He shows up with more instruction. Prepare your heart and mind to humbly obey. 

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