A Hope Fulfilled - Advent DevotionalSample

Paul continues his thought on the divine sovereignty and selection of the Jews as promised to Abraham. The discussion revolved around the exclusion of the Jews from the covenant relationship with God (Romans 9:3-6). Abraham had two children (excluding Keturah’s) – Ishmael through Hagar and Isaac through Sarah. While both are children of Abraham, one wonders whether the promise of God to him about his descendants would be through the former child or the latter one. This is the argument that the apostle brings to the attention of the church in Rome. Nevertheless, he recontextualizes the words spoken to Sarah, demurring the imminent purpose of Hagar’s child, Ishmael, “it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned” (Genesis 21:12). According to Paul, God’s choice is indisputable and perpetually sealed. The birth of the world's Savior emanates through mapping this lineage.

The text reveals an important truth that deserves our attention. While Ishmael was the first son of Abraham, he wasn’t the covenant choice. This means that, unlike Isaac, Ishmael had no privileges reserved for Israel and the dividends that come with being God’s people. Sometimes in life, we want to take matters into our own hands as Sarah had planned to do to Hagar’s child. The reason is that the wait for the promised child had taken a long time. The reality is waiting is a daunting task that can cause us to make rush decisions birthed out of the flesh and not the Spirit. For with every decision comes consequences that can either be good or bad. Praise be to God that His promise, His sovereign choice, is fulfilled in the incarnate Son of God!

Prayer

Father, in this Advent season, teach us to distinguish between those born of the flesh and those born of the Spirit. May you strengthen us in the season of waiting as we look forward to the fulfillment of the promise but also the rewards of the promise for our individual lives. Amen!

Boniface Odong, Ph.D., serves as assistant professor of Biblical Studies for the Regent University School of Divinity.