1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, And 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. Genesis 3 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: twenty one one, My God, the master of time, through 4 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:17,159 Speaker 1: to day's reading of Genesis eighteen. I now make the 5 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: declaration that I will not become a victim of time. 6 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:26,440 Speaker 1: I will not go another moment believing that the best 7 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: of my life is behind me, or that I missed 8 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:34,840 Speaker 1: my opportunity to become what You've called me to become. Instead, 9 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: I will look to Abraham and Sarah and see your 10 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: hand move outside the confinements of man and create something supernatural. 11 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 1: To day, I declare that it's not too late. To day, 12 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: I declare that I will give birth to my dreams. 13 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 1: To day, I declare that God has the final say. 14 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: I will not look to others or to my circumstance 15 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:08,399 Speaker 1: to determine if my breakthrough can occur through Christ. My 16 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: answer is yes and Amen. So if God said it, 17 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:19,199 Speaker 1: I choose to believe it, and that settles it. Thank 18 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 1: You for my new season and for the birth of 19 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: what's next. My new life is upon me, and I 20 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: will not laugh but rejoice in the impossible becoming possible. 21 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: Time is on my side. In Jesus name. Amen, thank 22 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 1: you for making prayer a priority in your day. To 23 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: learn more about the Bible, stay tuned for today's story, 24 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: brought to you by Bible in a Year dot. 25 00:01:52,360 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 2: Com, Abraham and Sarah's new Life. Before this story, we 26 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 2: learned about Abram and sarise slow descent into madness from 27 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:17,239 Speaker 2: impatience with God's promises. Per Sarai's request, Abram slept with 28 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 2: her servant to have a son, Ishmael. In doing so, 29 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:24,519 Speaker 2: they took the promises of God in their own hands 30 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:29,679 Speaker 2: and furthered their dysfunction and woes. Now we will learn 31 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:34,799 Speaker 2: about how God still makes promises despite their disobedience. As 32 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 2: God blessed them, he changes their names as inspired by 33 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:40,799 Speaker 2: the Book of Genesis. 34 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible 35 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,119 Speaker 3: in a Year podcast. But before we began, I want 36 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 3: to let you know about a unique ebook that's yours 37 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:57,640 Speaker 3: to download absolutely free today. Is called Breaking Free from Stress, 38 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 3: and my prayer is that it will help you conquer 39 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,920 Speaker 3: the daily task and pressures and burdens that bring stress 40 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 3: in your life. Download your free copy of Breaking Free 41 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 3: from Stress today by visiting Jack Graham dot org. Slash stress. 42 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 3: That's Jack Graham dot Org slash stress. Yesterday we learned 43 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:21,519 Speaker 3: that despite Abram and Sarah's impatience with God and lack 44 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 3: of faith in his plans, God reaffirmed his promise to 45 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 3: give them a child that would bless the nations. Their 46 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,919 Speaker 3: sin wasn't without consequence, of course, and as we join 47 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,519 Speaker 3: them in today's story, it has been over a decade 48 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 3: since hegar for Ishmael. Throughout the Bible, we see examples 49 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 3: of God giving people new names to signify a new 50 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 3: start and a fresh identity. This is what we find here, 51 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 3: with God once again reassuring Abram and Sarah of his 52 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 3: covenant and now giving them new names Abraham and Sarah. 53 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 3: So the theme of new beginnings is clear with the 54 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 3: outset here, there are other themes to pay attention to. 55 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 3: You will see also how it is okay to question 56 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 3: God in faith when we have doubts, and even when 57 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 3: we wonder out loud or if He is able to 58 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,719 Speaker 3: deliver on a promise. Faith in questions can exist in 59 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 3: the same mind and hearts without nullifying each other. You 60 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,839 Speaker 3: will find this in today's story. We'll also see that 61 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,599 Speaker 3: God's blessings are not limited. They are often different in 62 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 3: nature from one person to the next. But God has 63 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,040 Speaker 3: no shortage of blessing to give to those who trust 64 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:36,799 Speaker 3: in Him. And finally, today's story will mark an important 65 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 3: step forward in enacting God's plan to save the world 66 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 3: through the sacrifice of one of Abraham's descendants. Now, let's 67 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 3: get to today's story of new life and reaffirmed covenant. 68 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 2: Abram and Sarah, following their shameful attempts to fulfill the 69 00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:01,600 Speaker 2: will of God themselves, had waited thirteen years. They were 70 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 2: both growing old, and their already small chances of being 71 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:10,159 Speaker 2: able to have children were all but lost. Abram was 72 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 2: ninety nine years old. Yet God is not a god 73 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 2: to fail on his promises. God spoke again to Abram, saying, 74 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:24,840 Speaker 2: I am the Almighty. Walk with me, be blameless, and 75 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 2: I will make my covenant between us, and I will 76 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 2: multiply you greatly. Abram, in prayer to God, prostrated himself 77 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 2: in the dirt, face down on the ground. Abram responded 78 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 2: to God, broken and discouraged. God continued saying, my covenant 79 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 2: is with you, and you shall be the father of 80 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 2: many nations. Behold, no longer shall your name be called Abram, 81 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:57,719 Speaker 2: but your name shall be Abraham, because I have made 82 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 2: you a father of all nations. My promise to you 83 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 2: will last for thousands of generations, an everlasting covenant. I 84 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 2: will be God to you and all your offspring. Abraham 85 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 2: looked to heaven. God had promised him again that he 86 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:20,799 Speaker 2: would provide him a namesake, and through him all nations 87 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:26,480 Speaker 2: would be blessed. God, knowing that Abraham needed reassuring, spoke again. 88 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 2: My promises are true. You will see. But first your 89 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:37,280 Speaker 2: promise to me must be made. Go and circumcise yourself 90 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 2: and all the men in your family. This will be 91 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 2: a sign of our covenant that you will be mine 92 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,599 Speaker 2: and I will be yours. From now on, when a 93 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 2: baby boy is eight days old, you will circumcise him. 94 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 2: Any male who is not circumcised will be estranged from 95 00:06:56,360 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 2: the people of God, since he has broken my promise you. 96 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:06,359 Speaker 2: God also spoke of SARAHI, saying, as for your wife, 97 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 2: you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah. I 98 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 2: will bless her abundantly, and I will give you two 99 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 2: a son, and you will call his name Isaac. I 100 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 2: will bless her, and she shall the mother of nations 101 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 2: to come. Abraham fell on his face again, but this 102 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 2: time it was not in worship. Abraham laughed at the 103 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 2: notion of his wife giving birth in her old age. 104 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 2: He said to himself, shall a child be born to 105 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 2: a man who is one hundred years old? Is my 106 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 2: ninety year old wife going to conceive? Abraham trusted God, 107 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 2: but saw plenty of reasons to doubt before him. This 108 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 2: is the struggle of man with God, trusting him despite 109 00:07:55,040 --> 00:08:00,559 Speaker 2: all circumstances, saying the opposite. Abraham looked to God and said, 110 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 2: what of my son Ishmair, Could you just bless him instead? 111 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 2: I doubt we will be able to have children. No, 112 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 2: God said, but Sarah, your wife shall bear you a son, 113 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 2: and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish 114 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 2: an everlasting covenant with him. I will bless him and 115 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 2: all the children beyond him. As for Ishmaea, I have 116 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 2: heard you. I have already blessed him and will make 117 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:32,839 Speaker 2: him fruitful. He shall be the father of twelve princes, 118 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 2: and I will build a great nation through him. But 119 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 2: I will establish my covenant with Isaac, and Sarah will 120 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 2: bear him to you at this time next year. Abraham 121 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 2: believed in God, though he did not completely understand God. 122 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 2: Abraham and Sarah were victim to the time they felt 123 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 2: slipping away. Mankind was not built to endure the entropy 124 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 2: of age. Abraham, in faith, did as he was told. 125 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:06,439 Speaker 2: He circumcised his family. The tearing away of the foreskin 126 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 2: was a symbol that Abraham's seed belonged to the Lord. 127 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 2: It was a strange sacrifice with eternal and metaphysical meaning. 128 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 2: Abraham and Sarah's family was blessed by God forever, and 129 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 2: he carried them through all the strife of living. The 130 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:29,680 Speaker 2: whole world would soon come to know intimately Abraham's blessing 131 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 2: from God. One day, the sacrifice of a descendant of 132 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 2: Abraham would shower the entire earth with blessing. Yet for now, 133 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:41,439 Speaker 2: they waited on the. 134 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 3: Lord as a result of their impatience, an attempt to 135 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 3: control the working out of God's plan. Abram and Sarah 136 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 3: have suffered thirteen years of waiting. As we opened today's story, 137 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 3: Hagar has long since given birth to Ishmael, and God 138 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 3: is reaffirm that it will not be through him that 139 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 3: he will deliver the promised blessing to the world. But 140 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,439 Speaker 3: Sarah and Abram are now old, and though they are 141 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 3: still trusting God. The promise of Sarah getting pregnant seems mniscal. 142 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:16,440 Speaker 3: Did you notice that once again God makes a covenant 143 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 3: with Abram, But this time there is a big difference. 144 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,959 Speaker 3: With the covenant comes a new name, a name that 145 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 3: further solidifies the promise. Listen to Genesis seventeen, verses four 146 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 3: and five, as God records the promise and the new 147 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 3: name Abram receives as for me, behold, my covenant is 148 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 3: with you, and you will be the father of a 149 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 3: multitude of nations. No longer shall you be named Abram, 150 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 3: but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made 151 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:49,839 Speaker 3: you the father of a multitude of nations. He also 152 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 3: gives Sarah a new name, Sarah. God does not tire 153 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:58,479 Speaker 3: of reassuring those who trust in him. He knew Abraham 154 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 3: and Sarah were weary. He knew they were holding onto 155 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 3: something that, from a human perspective, seemed downright crazy, that 156 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 3: an old man and an old woman would conceive and 157 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 3: have a child. So God lovingly restated his promise, and 158 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 3: he gave them new names and a visible new sign 159 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 3: of the promise, circumcision. This would be a constant reminder 160 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:25,440 Speaker 3: that God has set Abraham and his descendants apart. And 161 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 3: although in his heart Abraham believed God and had faith 162 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:31,560 Speaker 3: in him, this story shows that it is possible to 163 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:36,560 Speaker 3: question God and wonder honestly how a promise will come about. 164 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:40,079 Speaker 3: It's not as though God does not know of these doubts. 165 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:44,320 Speaker 3: God can handle your questions. He can take care of 166 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 3: your doubt, even your laughter at the seeming impossibility of 167 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 3: his plans. He is pleased by your honesty and will 168 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 3: comfort you as he did Abraham, even in the moments 169 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:59,319 Speaker 3: of doubt. So Abraham falls on his face laughing at 170 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 3: the thought of him and Sarah having children. God is 171 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 3: not upset or angry. He once again confirms that indeed 172 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 3: they will be the parents of a child. We even 173 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 3: see Abraham trying to offer another alternative. Just use Ishmael 174 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 3: to fulfill it, he suggests. Again, making a suggestion or 175 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 3: an offer is an offensive to God. It was when 176 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 3: Abraham took things into his own hands without consulting God 177 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 3: that problems arose. But God told him, no, I will 178 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 3: do what I said. We also see here that God's 179 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 3: blessings are not limited. He promises to bless Ishmael, just 180 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 3: in a different way. So Abraham demonstrates his faith with action. 181 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,679 Speaker 3: He circumcises the males in his household, and so finally 182 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 3: God gives Sarah and Abraham a son, Isaac. It is 183 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 3: through Isaac that God will bring about his great redemptive plan, 184 00:12:54,920 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 3: a perfect sacrifice once for all time. Holy God, your 185 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 3: timing and your plans are perfect, and we thank you 186 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 3: for this powerful story today that shows us just how 187 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 3: true this is that you keep your promises. Just as 188 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:14,720 Speaker 3: you kept every promise to Abraham and his descendants. You 189 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 3: are faithful to keep your promises to us through Jesus Christ, 190 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 3: and we praise you for this, and we thank you 191 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 3: help us to honestly always come before you, even in 192 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 3: times of doubts and questions and fears and anxiety, and 193 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:31,199 Speaker 3: that we would trust you and trust ourselves to your 194 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 3: loving care and for your assurance every day of our lives. 195 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:41,119 Speaker 3: In Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for listening to today's 196 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 3: Bible ny of Year podcast. Before we go, I want 197 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 3: to let you know about a unique ebook that's yours 198 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 3: to download absolutely free today. It's called Breaking Free from Stress, 199 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:55,319 Speaker 3: and my prayer is that it will help you conquer 200 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 3: the daily task and pressures and burdens that bring stress 201 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:02,439 Speaker 3: into your life. Download your free copy of Breaking Free 202 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:07,199 Speaker 3: from Stress today by visiting Jaggraam dot org slash stress. 203 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 3: That's Jagraham dot org slash stress.