This Day in History: 0000-12-16

December 16 – Genesis 17:19

But God replied, “No – Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm My covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant.

Genesis 21:12 – But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.

PROPHECY

The Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham through the line of Isaac, not Ishmael.

FULFILLMENT

Luke 3:23 – 34 – Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Heli. Heli was the son Matthat. Matthat was the son of…. Judah was the son of Jacob. Jacob was the son of Isaac. Isaac was the son of Abraham.

You know, I wonder how many times we try to control things that really just aren’t in our hands at all, and just end up making a mess? That’s exactly what happened when Abraham and Sarah decided God needed a little help to keep His promise of a Messiah coming through Abraham’s lineage. But God didn’t need their help then, and He doesn’t need our help now.

I can’t help but wonder, if Abraham and Sarah would have simply believed Him to fulfill His promise on His own, would our world be as war torn as it is today? The animosity between people of Jewish heritage and those with Arabic roots would be non-existent!

God had promised Abraham and Sarah a descendant who would bring salvation to the world, and God kept that promise by first giving them Isaac, and then by sending Jesus Christ. Let us look to that fulfilled prophecy for reassurance of God’s perfect sovereignty and resist the temptation to meddle with His plans. This Christmas season may we celebrate the confident freedom we have as His dearly loved children to simply trust Him. Always.