DAY 2: Faith from Doubt
Angelica is a teenager with normal teenage concerns. But she also has some deeper concerns that are bothering her. She lives alone with her mom, who just lost her job. Angelica has seen her mom crying and is brokenhearted. She is also fearful that if her mom is not able to find work soon, that they could lose their house. If Angelica cries out to God, will He listen? Will He hear her? Will He answer, and will He provide?
God’s initial promise to Abraham concerning a son who would be a blessing to the nations was originally given in Genesis 12. Ten long years later, Abraham and Sarah still did not have a son. Had God forgotten them? Or worse, had God decided to go back on His promise or change His mind?
In that tenth year, God came to Abraham once again and reminded him of the promise to give him a son who would then bless the nations. After hearing it, Abraham’s doubts became apparent, “Oh Lord God, what will You give to me, since I am childless. . . since You have not given me offspring” (Genesis 15:2-3).
In order to answer Abraham’s doubts, God came to him and told Abraham to look into the heavens and count the stars (as if such a thing were possible). That amazing number would be the number of people blessed through Abraham’s son. . . a countless multitude (Genesis 15:5). Furthermore, in order for Abraham to know for certain that God would accomplish every aspect of His promise, He entered into a covenant with Abraham. This time, Abraham believed the Lord by faith (Genesis 15:6). He knew that God was perfect in His goodness and could not lie or break His word (Hebrews 6:13-18).
Although Abraham and Sarah’s first son was Isaac, Isaac was not the son of God’s promise. But there was someone much further down the line of Abraham’s lineage who would be the Ultimate Son of Promise. The Gospel of Matthew identifies for us that Jesus (in His human nature) was “the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). The book of Galatians further identifies Jesus as the True and Ultimate Son of Abraham, “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, ‘And to his seeds,’ as referring to many, but rather to one, ‘And to your seed,’ that is, Christ” (Galatians 3:16). In other words, Jesus Christ is the Promised Son of Abraham. Jesus is the one who will bless the nations. He will save, deliver, protect, and be a shield to a countless multitude of people from every tongue, tribe, and nation. . . a multitude that no one can count (Revelation 7:9).
God was always with Abraham. The Lord was with him at the time of the initial promise. The Lord was there ten years later to confirm the promise with a covenant. And the Lord was there twenty-five years later when Isaac was born. God has been with His people “at the pinnacle of time” when Jesus was born as the Son of Abraham, and He is with all of His people now. The point is that God has a plan that He is always working. Even when we do not think that God hears our cries, He is there, with us, and always holding us fast as He carries out His good plan for us. Let’s pray together for Angelica and her mom. Let’s ask the Lord to give Angelica’s mom a fantastic job that allows them to stay in their home and have safety. Let’s ask God to provide for and shield Angelica and her mom.