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A FLAWED PROMISE?

Standing on a promise from God often turns out to be an endurance test of faith. When we receive a promise from God through the Bible or a word of prophecy, it is an exhilarating ride. It takes all the patience and scripture verses banked in our minds to continue believing. But what happens when your promise brings you more misery than joy?

I can think of no other Bible character who understood this better than Abraham. After roughing fifteen years of waiting for his promised son, God tells him to kill that very child. “Take your son, your only son - yes, Isaac, whom you love so much - and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you” (Genesis 22:2, NLT). I can think of many questions I would have asked if I were in Abraham’s shoes.

Did Abraham want a son more than he wanted God? Did he love Isaac more than God when his son eventually arrived? Was God still teaching him a lesson because of the whole Ismael fiasco? (Genesis 16). Would everything have turned out differently if he managed his desires and expectations better?

The answer is no. Centuries later, we know that God made another promise at Moriah that day. Isaac's life would start a genealogy that would result in another Father sacrificing his Son for the sins of many (Matthew 1). “And he said to them, ‘This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many’” (Mark 14:24, NLT). Fortunately for all of us, Abraham’s faith withstood the test.

Now you might argue that your promise is turning out badly because you do not have Abraham’s faith. No! Even though Abraham’s faith is celebrated many times in the Bible (Hebrews 11; Romans 4:16), it is important to remember that our faith is a gift from God. “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God” (Ephesians 2:8, NLT).

You see, your promises from God, as well as your faith that they will be fulfilled, are directed by God Himself. And you need to ask Him for even more faith to trust the outcome. “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” (Proverbs 20:24, NLT).

Let us embrace the promises God gives us without restraint. Let us celebrate God’s amazing plans for the future as we see them unfold through his promises. “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9, NLT).