READ GENESIS 17
Sometimes, God's plans can be confusing. He had been promising Abraham a child, which sounded great in theory. The issue was that Abraham and his wife Sarah were getting older with each passing day. Despite God's repeated assurances, the idea of them having a child seemed more and more unrealistic as time went on. While Abraham might have been able to have a child many years ago, the idea of him becoming a father at the age of 99 seemed ludicrous. In fact, after God made his proclamation, Abraham fell facedown and laughed—a reaction born out of frustration rather than humor. He couldn't help but wonder if God was serious about fulfilling his promises.
There are times when maintaining faith becomes challenging. Believing in God becomes difficult when our circumstances don't align with what we expect and life seems to be constantly veering off track. At some point, we all find ourselves relating to Abraham's skepticism towards God's promises in the face of conflicting circumstances. Despite our doubts, we are called to trust that God will remain faithful to his word.
When we find ourselves laughing in disbelief, the best course of action is often the most daunting—to stand up and take a leap of faith. In those moments, we learn to rely on God more than our emotions or our limited understanding. Even though it may seem challenging, we must overcome our uncertainties and move in obedience towards God's calling.
While our emotions can deceive us and our logic may fail us, we need to follow Abraham's example of persevering in faith despite the challenges. Even if God's instructions seem difficult or illogical, we are urged to obediently follow His lead, no matter how insignificant or overwhelming the task might seem. Today, we have the opportunity to place our trust in God's promises above our own doubts and fears.
QUESTIONS
1. What emotions do you believe Abraham experienced in this passage?
2. For what reason do you think God changed Abram and Sarai's names?
3. What obstacles prevent you from obeying God's instructions?