READING: Genesis 15:1-17:27
God knows all things, past, present, and future. We know that, but I’m not sure how often we consider the power—and the hope—of that truth. Nothing takes our God by surprise.
In Genesis 15, God prophesied to Abram the future of His people hundreds of years before the fulfillment of a word about enslavement followed by freedom and wealth. God had promised offspring to Abram—as many as the stars, in fact. Then, God give Abram these details about the future: “You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end they will come away with great wealth” (Gen 15:13-14). It would take centuries before the Hebrews would depart Egypt with spoils in hand, but God’s Word would come true according to His timetable. Abram, God said, could be sure of that truth.
Yet, Abram himself would not be alive when God fulfilled His word. That’s a healthy reminder for us: we who teach the surety of God’s promises might not see the fulfillment of all those promises in our lifetimes. Nevertheless, we are to trust Him with full confidence that He will fulfill His word. Even we who die without having seen the fulfillment still die in faith—resting assured that God’s fulfillment and timing will be exactly right. We can be sure of that.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Are you struggling trusting God because He has not yet responded to your prayer? Trust Him anyway.
PRAYER: “Father, grant me eyes of faith.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Genesis 18:1-21:7