Genesis 15:1–6 & 17:1–10 ‘The word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.”’ (15:4)
As we continue to consider God’s timing, today we look at another character in Genesis: Abraham. Often it seems that our timing and God’s are at odds. We tend to want everything now, and yet God’s perspective is an eternal one not temporal. It can feel as though God is often late, rather like the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, who is always late for a very important date.
Yet God’s timing is perfect. Genesis tells us in Joseph’s story that it was two full years between the cupbearer being restored and Pharaoh having his dream and calling for Joseph. How long those two years must have felt to Joseph.
In today’s readings, God promises a son to Abraham, and yet Abraham has to wait until both he and Sarah are past childbearing age for that promise to be fulfilled. Abraham tries to rush God by fathering a child, Ishmael, with his slave. However, while Ishmael is Abraham’s son, he is not the promised fulfilment.
Abraham has to live with the consequences of his choices. Joseph must have felt, during the long prison years, that the promise of him being raised up was an impossibility, and yet God knew that in the fullness of time His plans would fulfilled.
A Prayer to Make:
‘Thank You that You are never late, Lord, but that your timing is perfect. Help me to live in that truth by faith when I cannot see it. Amen.’
An Action to Take:
Reflect on the times in your life when it has felt that God’s timing was off. What might have been God’s different perspective and plan that He was working out?
Scripture to Consider:
Eccles. 3:1–8; Isa. 14:24–27 & 25:1–5; Gal. 4:1–7; Eph. 1:9–12
