May 26, 2025 | Be God's Family
God's Promise of Abraham's Descendants
Scripture: Hebrews 6:13-15(NIV)
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
Devotional
Abraham is considered the patriarch of the faith. Here’s his bio:
Abram (his original name) was born and raised in the city of Ur in Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq).
He was around 70 when he relocated to Haran (present-day Turkey) with his wife and father and nephew. The Bible says his wife “Sarai was childless because she was not able to conceive” (Genesis 11:30). She was ten years younger.
He was 75 when he left his father’s household and relocated to Canaan (present-day Israel) with his wife and nephew. He and Sarai were still childless, when God made this promise: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you” (Genesis 12:2).
He was between 75 and 85 when God confirmed His promise to Abraham, “a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir” (Genesis 15:4).
He was 86 when he had a son Ishmael through his wife’s Egyptian slave. This was suggested by Sarai herself, as a means of her building a family through her slave (see Genesis 16).
He was 99 when God changed is name to Abraham and his wife’s name to Sarah, saying, “my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year” (Genesis 17:21).
Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 when their son Isaac was born, fulfilling God’s promise to the patriarch. (Genesis 21:1-5).
With this background, reflect on the words from today’s reading from Hebrews 6:13-15.
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
Poem
It Is So Hard To Wait
Psalm 105
Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, you his servants, the descendants of Abraham, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
Psalm 105:5-7
It is so hard to wait
In long line at fair
At a bus stop or airport
Or in waiting room chair
It is so hard to wait
To be called to the game
While sitting on bench
While feeling lack’s shame
It is so hard to wait
For a call to a job
For relief in finances
For that “well done” boss nod
It is so hard to wait
For the love of your life--
Then forgiveness and love
To still marriage’s strife
It is so hard to wait
For an answer to prayer
When you cry on your pillow
Or at ceiling do stare
It is so hard to wait
For God’s promise revealing
While emotions and grieving
Your joy and hope stealing
But waiting is part
Of the faithful one’s day
To remember God’s promise
And in Him to stay
So think back on the wonders
Your God has displayed
Remember the miracles
Of former days
Remember God’s precepts
Remember God’s laws
Confess, by the Spirit,
Those deep hidden flaws
Remember your place in
God’s family of Light
Remember how Jesus has
Set all things right
Remember your future
God’s promised to you
And vanquish life’s blindness
With heaven in view
Remember your Savior
How he bore the sin
Grab hold, while you’re waiting,
To deep peace within
Embrace all the waiting
Know in God’s due time
God’s best, He’s creating
His glory to shine
A great revelation!
Beyond all that is known
A great celebration!
God’s faithfulness shown
