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GENESIS 16–17; PSALM 12

Week 2, Day 2

Sarah, who is, of course, as fine an example of faith as Abraham, wavers as does Abraham. In frustration, she attributes her childlessness to God (16:2), and judges (as Abraham seems to have done in Chapter 15) that she will have to take matters into her own hands.

Her solution was probably a rather common one in that time and culture; she and Abraham use her maid as a surrogate mother. But when the maid, Hagar, finds that she has succeeded where her mistress could not, she feels scorn for Sarah. So Ishmael is born; and since the Arab world looks upon him as their ancestor and the Jews upon Isaac as theirs, the strife between Sarah and Hagar continues to our day.

Thirteen years pass, and when Abraham is ninety-nine (17:1) God promises again that he and Sarah will have a son. It has been a long wait! At this moment his name is changed from Abram (exalted ancestor) to Abraham (ancestor of a multitude), and Sarai is changed to Sarah. Still, Abraham wants to cling to what is present and visible: “O that Ishmael might live in your sight!” (17:18). No wonder, when he and Sarah had waited so long and to no avail.

But God assures Abraham that there will be an Isaac and commands that the covenant mark of circumcision be instituted. From this point on, the Hebrew Scriptures divide the world, by this mark, into the circumcised and the uncircumcised.

PRAYER: Thank you, gracious Lord, for not giving up on me when I wonder and wander! Lead me on, I pray; in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Both Abraham and Sarah waver in their faith. How is our faith affected by our doubting?