In our Old Testament reading today Abraham has an
encounter with God where God promises him that
he will be the father of a great nation that will bless
people for generations. At that time Abraham had no
logical way to make sense of God’s promise. Abra-
ham is old and so is his wife Sarah. They have no
children. He is a prosperous herder but he has no
land or army or gold. It does not seem likely that this
promise could happen. God does not explain how or
when this will happen, only that it is his plan.
Abraham continues to have faith in God and contin-
ues to walk forward in the path God lays out for him.
Eventually Abraham has an heir. And through many
generations and through many triumphs and trage-
dies the descendants of Abraham and his nomadic
tribe are transformed into a nation state. It is from
this nation and culture that Jesus is born.
God does not just encounter people in the Bible. As
children of God we believe he has a plan for us, as
both the people of God and also for us individually.
When have we sensed God’s promise to us? Are
there times we don’t see how God can make things
turn out right for us? We can take comfort when we
remember God kept his promise to Abraham. The
timing and the way were God’s. Abraham’s part was
to have active faith as he went about his daily life
working and playing and praying and worshipping.
That is what we can do too.
Peace.
Mary