This Time Next Year

September 13, 2019 by Cee Maria in God Calls You By Name

Genesis 17:21, 23-27 NLT

“But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.”

On that very day Abraham took his son, Ishmael, and every male in his household, including those born there and those he had bought. Then he circumcised them, cutting off their foreskins, just as God had told him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, and Ishmael, his son, was thirteen. Both Abraham and his son, Ishmael, were circumcised on that same day, along with all the other men and boys of the household, whether they were born there or bought as servants. All were circumcised with him.

Abraham’s heart must have jumped in his throat. THIS time next year…. This TIME next year….This time NEXT year…. This time next YEAR! Abraham sowed a lot of spiritual seeds of faith and obedience to God in his life and he’s about to reap his harvest.

What happens when hope is activated?

Hope removes doubts

Like an eraser wiping marker off a whiteboard, all of Abraham’s doubts were deleted away from his heart. God never lied to Abraham and he knew it was as good as done. Joyful expectancy rose up in Abraham. Without doubt, this time next year, Abraham and Sarah will be the parents of a special baby boy.

Hope tightens our bond with God

Abraham cut covenant with God in the most intimate, private, sensitive part of himself. Everytime Abraham took a shower or visited the restroom, he would be reminded of his covenant. Everytime Abraham made love to Sarah, he would be reminded of his covenant. Every private action involved God and His covenant.

Hope releases favor

Favor is defined as preferential treatment and approval (1). God has kept a record of all the times Abraham kept his faith in Him and obeyed His commands and His regard for Abraham is tremendous. Of all the men living on earth at the time, Abraham was chosen to inherit the legacy of faith.

Favor spills into everything Abraham does and who he has charge over. God granted Abraham such favor with Ishmael and all the men he had authority over, he was able to convince them to join him in this covenant on the very same day!

Hope produces increase of blessings

All of the men, including Ishmael, would also be circumcised. They would also be reminded that God was watching them in the most private moments of their lives. What incentive to live pure and holy! But, the rewards were great and God’s blessings would follow them as it did Abraham. It would be a blessing these men would pass down to their own descendants as well.

Hope prepares for the new normal

God was preparing Abraham and his tribe a year in advance for the change ahead. Sarah is the princess of a multitude and to become a miracle mother. A miracle prince is to be born, his name will be Isaac, and he will continue God’s amazing covenant. A day will come where some of these men will answer not only to Abraham, but to Isaac as well.

Let’s pray:

Father, You are El Shaddai, God Almighty. Thank You for circumcising my heart so that I am aware that You are watching the most private moments of my life. Hope in Your word removes my doubts and bonds me closer to You. I am grateful for Your favor on my life and I pray that the blessings in my life overflow into the lives of others exponentially. Hope in Your promises prepares me for what’s ahead. In Jesus name, Amen.

References:

1) https://www.dictionary.com/browse/favor

Don't Lose Hope

September 08, 2019 by Cee Maria in God Calls You By Name

Genesis 17:17 NLT

Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?” So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!”

Abraham and God have a long history at this point. God has pulled him through many situations. But, it has been a very long time since Abraham was promised a son.

Outwardly bowing, inwardly laughing

In Chapter 17, God introduces Himself as God Almighty. Next, God warns Abraham to serve Him faithfully and live a blameless life. Then God declares Abraham and Sarah’s future and legacy. When Abraham heard God’s plans for him, he bows. Bowing before the Almighty should have been an act of reverence. But, as soon as Abraham’s knees hit the ground, he burrowed his chin into his chest and snickered. Obviously, he was challenged by all this information and couldn’t wrap his mind around it

It’s just that this promise was made so long ago. Time has taken its toll on Abraham’s and Sarah’s bodies and they are both sterile. The emotional high from the joyful expectation of a son had turned into utter disappointment and despondency. Dismissing everything he was told, Abraham simply asks God to bless Ishmael.

God rectifies Abraham’s understanding

Rude, huh? I didn’t read that a thunderbolt struck Abraham as the earth swallowed him up. Lost hope had compromised his faith in the integrity of God’s word. God understood where he was coming from and reaffirmed His promise to Abraham. Once again, God demonstrates His love for this man by rectifying his erroneous understanding and reigniting his hope.

Genesis 17:19 NLT

But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant.

What about Ishmael?

Abraham is concerned about Ishmael’s future. Out of His respect for Abraham, God blesses Ishmael.

Genesis 17:20 NLT

As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.

A promise and a timeline

God completes His conversation with Abraham with a promise and a timeline.

Genesis 17:21 NLT

But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.” When God had finished speaking, he left Abraham.

When God is finished speaking

Let me paraphrase ‘when God had finished speaking’. In other words, when Abraham understood God’s plans and accepted His terms; only then did He leave. What was God doing? He was restoring hope, the fervent expectation of a promise to be fulfilled (1). God loved Abraham and kept working with him until he got on board.

God can only be El Shaddai, Almighty God, when we agree to work together with Him so we could move forward in His plans and purposes for us.

Let’s pray:

Father, I admit that there are promises in Your Word that I have waited so long and lost hope in ever seeing fulfilled. I ask You to rectify my thinking and clarify my understanding concerning Your will for me. Thank You for working with me until I understand Your plans. Thank You for restoring my hope. I agree to work together with You so Your plans and purposes for my life are fulfilled. In Jesus name, Amen.

References:

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/hope?s=t

Her Name Will Be Sarah

August 23, 2019 by Cee Maria in God Calls You By Name

Genesis 17:15-16 NLT

Then God said to Abraham, “Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah. And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”

God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, and now He changes Sarai’s name to Sarah.

Who is Sarai?

Sarai is the woman who followed Abram from Ur in Genesis 12. She left her family behind obeying the Word of the Lord. Sarai put her life in danger in order to spare Abram’s life when they crossed into Egypt, also in Genesis 12. God dramatically saved Sarai from the wrath of Pharaoh. A plague invaded the household and pharaoh was prevented from having intercourse with her. By Genesis 16, Sarai gave Abram her very own servant to have intercourse with him so they could raise this child as their own. Looking at her history, it is obvious that Sarai would do anything for Abraham.

Sarai’s Position

God speaks to Abraham about Sarai, his wife. In God’s eyes, Sarai is Abraham’s covenant partner. Sarai is bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh, they are one spirit. Like Adam and Eve, they stand as equals, side by side, in covenant with God.

Not just Abraham’s princess

Just as God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, He changed Sarai’s name to Sarah. Sarai means ‘my lady’ or ‘my princess’ (1). She was the exclusive princess to her biological father who named her, and to Abraham and their caravan. But, now Sarah is promoted to a princess of a multitude (2). She is the daughter of the greatest monarch, God Almighty, El Shaddai.

God wants Sarah to put Him first in her life

Like Abraham, Sarah had her faults. Her desire for a son was to please Abraham and to continue his legacy. But, God wanted her to put Him first so she would raise a son who would worship Him and continue this amazing covenant. As far as God was concerned, this was Sarah’s exclusive destiny and no one else would take her place. When Sarah makes God first and submits to His will, He would reward her with blessings beyond her wildest dreams. Not only will she be the princess of El Shaddai, but she will also become the matriarch of nations!

Let’s Pray:

Father,

You know my faults. But, You have a destiny designed specifically for me and no one can take my place. I submit to Your will and choose to follow Your destiny for my life. Thank You for blessing me beyond my wildest dreams. In Jesus name, Amen.

References:

1) https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H8297&t=KJV

2) https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H8283&t=KJV