The Birth of Isaac
Genesis 21:1 – The LORD came to Sarah, just as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised.
What had the Lord said exactly? Here it is in Genesis 18:14: Is anything impossible for the LORD? At the time set for it, I will return to you – about a year from now – and Sarah will have a son.
As the Lord had promised. He returned. Just when it seemed as through things couldn’t get any more impossible. God returned and made the impossible happen.
Genesis 21:2 – Sarah conceived and gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age, at the very time that God had told him. 3 – Abraham named his son who was born to him Isaac – the very one whom Sarah bore for him!
The very one! – This wasn’t the name of some humanly devised substitute. This was the actual name of the actual miracle child whom Sarah carried for nine months and experienced the pain of childbirth with.
Every moment of growth, movement, and discomfort for Sarah was a miracle. The very pain of labor and childbirth, a miracle. The first breath and cry of Isaac, a miracle.
Genesis 21:4 – On the eighth day after his son Isaac had been born, Abraham circumcised him, just as God had commanded him. 5 – Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born tho him.
Verse 6 – Now Sarah had said, “God has caused me to laugh, and all who hear about it will laugh with me.” verse 7 – She also said, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse sons? Yet I have given birth to a son in my husband’s old age!”
When it seemed most impossible – God returned to Sarah
When it seems most impossible – God will return for His people. He will return for you and for me.
Mark 13:8 says: …because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These things are only the beginning of the birth pains.
Every day that we can identify a sign of Jesus’ coming is a day of miracles. Why? Because we have reached the birth pains in prophecy – that means delivery is going to happen. I cannot imagine the pain that 90 year old Sarah would have experienced at giving birth to her first child and the sudden relief and joyous laughter that followed.
When Jesus returns there will be a lot of joyous laughter; that at a time when it seems most dire; when it seems most impossible; when it seems that God’s people will be completely wiped out – Jesus will appear, just as he promised he would. Oh the relief of the ages that will follow for God’s people!
Imagine traveling to other worlds in our vast universe possessing our unique story of how God did the impossible in saving His people. And so we will laugh together with them with the fresh discovery that the possibilities with God are endless.
Drink in Sarah’s experience today – imagine her pregnancy, her labour, the birth of Isaac and know that God always keeps His promises. Nothing is impossible for Him and He will come again, just as he said he would.
Where two are gathered 