The God Who Keeps His Promises
Reflections on Genesis 21:1-21
Faith and Fulfillment
Abraham’s Journey to Fatherhood at 100
Trusting God Beyond Our Limits
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)
In Genesis 21, God fulfills His long-promised word to Abraham and Sarah, bringing forth a son, Isaac, when Abraham was 100 years old. This miraculous birth not only reflects God’s faithfulness but also calls us to deeper trust in His ability to do what seems impossible. Abraham and Sarah’s journey reminds us of the unshakable nature of God’s promises, even when doubt and delay cloud our faith.
Trusting God with the Impossible (Genesis 21:1-7)
Who would have believed that Abraham and Sarah could bear a child in their old age? As Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “When we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.” Abraham and Sarah’s faith journey was filled with delays and moments of doubt, but God’s timing was perfect. The birth of Isaac at such an advanced age showcases that nothing is beyond God’s power.
N.T. Wright points out that “God’s promises are not confined by human limitations; they are boundless, reaching across time and our understanding.” This miracle of Isaac’s birth calls us to hand over our big problems and impossible situations to God. As Rick Warren says, “When you have a big problem, you have a big opportunity to see God’s power.”
Sarah’s Joy and God’s Faithfulness (Genesis 21:6-7)
After years of waiting, Sarah’s joy overflowed. “God has brought me laughter,” she said, “and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me” (Genesis 21:6). Sarah’s laughter reflects both astonishment and joy in God’s promise finally coming to pass. Her previous doubts and attempts to take matters into her own hands had robbed her of peace, but God’s fulfilled promise brought unexpected delight.
Matthew Henry notes, “When we focus on God’s promises rather than our doubts, we are granted peace beyond measure.” Just as Sarah could finally laugh with joy, so can we, knowing that God always keeps His word, no matter how unlikely it seems.
Eugene Peterson reminds us that faith isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about trusting in a faithful God who does. “Faith is not something we work up but something we trust in—the faithfulness of God.”
God’s Care for Ishmael (Genesis 21:8-21)
Even as Isaac, the son of promise, took center stage, God’s compassion extended to Ishmael. Cast out from Abraham’s family, Hagar and Ishmael were vulnerable in the desert. Yet God reassured Hagar, promising that Ishmael too would become a great nation (Genesis 21:18). God hears and cares for the outcast and the broken-hearted, reminding us of His boundless mercy.
Alexander Maclaren highlights this passage as a testament to God’s grace: “Our God is a God who sees and hears, especially the cries of those whom others have rejected.” In Ishmael’s life, we see a God who provides, even when circumstances seem hopeless.
John Calvin observed, “The providence of God shines forth in Ishmael’s story, revealing that none are abandoned beyond His reach.”
Reflecting on God’s Promises Today
Genesis 21 challenges us to reflect on where we might struggle to believe God’s promises in our own lives. Like Sarah, our hearts may be troubled with doubt, and like Hagar, we may feel abandoned. But God is faithful to keep His word. Trusting God’s timing and surrendering our fears and doubts to Him leads to peace, joy, and fulfillment, as His promises never fail.
“The same God who kept His promise to Abraham and Sarah will be faithful in our lives,” says Tim Keller. “His promises are reliable and more certain than anything else in the world.”
A Prayer of Trust
Dear Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness and for reminding us through Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar that You keep Your promises. Help us to trust You when the way seems impossible and to find peace in Your timing. May we, like Sarah, find joy in Your faithfulness and rest in Your unchanging love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Supporting Scriptures
• Luke 1:37 – “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
• Psalm 27:10 – “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.”
• Psalm 145:13 – “The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.”
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