THE PEOPLE IN THE BEGINNING: ABRAHAM

God, give me patience… and give it NOW!

Ridiculous! Right?

Do you suppose Abraham begged God for patience? God had promised him a son. He’d promised that Abram, the “Exalted Father,” would become Abraham, “Father of Multitudes.” But Abraham and Sarah were getting older, and still, they were childless.

How about you?

God has promised peace, yet the storms of life are deafening, the winds of fear are howling, the waves of doubt are crashing.

God has promised to meet every need, yet the cupboards are bare and the bank account is empty.

God has promised comfort, yet the pain is so real, the loss seems so final, the end seems so distant.

As Abraham and Sarah waited, God tenderly spoke. “Do not be afraid … I am your shield; your reward will be very great” (Genesis 15:1). So, they waited some more.

“When (Abraham) was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him, saying, ‘I am God Almighty’ ” (Genesis 17:1).

El Shaddai. God Almighty. Not Partially Mighty … All Mighty!

But … “ninety-nine years old!”

Impossible? No!

“Nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7, NKJV). “Those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired”(Isaiah 40:31, NET).

“I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).