By Kevin Harris, pastor of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in Wollongong, NSW
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Romans 4:20-21
Put yourself in Abraham’s sandals. You have no child. Not even one. Yet one night in Hebron, the Lord comes to you and says, ‘Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be’ (Genesis 15:5). You look up there and see numberless pin-pricks of light. You hear God say that your children will likewise be innumerable someday.
How would you respond to such a promise? A childless man with a barren wife is going to have multitudes of children.
While I might doubt a promise like that, Abraham didn’t. The next verse says, ‘And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.’
Romans 4:20 says he didn’t stagger or waver or doubt. Without hesitation, he says, ‘Okay, God, so be it.’
But the spotlight of the story is not on Abraham’s strong faith, but on his strong God. Marvel not that Abraham believed in the seemingly-impossible promise. Rather, marvel at the glory of God.
Our God is able to perform what He promises. He promises big, and He delivers big. He can do what seems impossible.
Years later, a baby’s cry sounded forth as ninety-year-old Sarah gave birth to Isaac. God performed His promise.
And He keeps on performing His promises.
What’s one of your favourite promises from God’s Word?
One of mine is John 5:24 –‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.’ Wow! What a promise!
More than once I’ve heard Grandma exclaim over 1 John 1:7’s glorious promise: ‘…the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.’
May God help us to join Abraham in being ‘fully persuaded that, what [God] ha[s] promised, he [is] able also to perform.’
Father, my heart rejoices as I read in Your Word about numerous large promises that You have made and performed. Both Your promises and Your power to perform them fill me with great hope. For these I thank You. Grow my trust in You to be strong like Abraham’s the better I come to know Who You are. I ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.
This article was written by Kevin Harris Dapto pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church.