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