Abraham’s long wait: a story of God’s promises fulfilled begins with the moment God called Abram. At that time, Abram was living in Haran with his family. God spoke to him, telling him to leave his country, his people, and his father’s household and go to a land that He would show him. Abram obeyed and traveled to Canaan, the land promised by God.
God made a covenant with Abram. He promised to make him a great nation, to bless him, to make his name great, and that through him, all the families of the earth would be blessed. Despite Abram’s advanced age and that of his wife, Sarai, God assured him that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.
This began Abraham’s long wait: a story of God’s promises fulfilled that would span many years.
The Years of Waiting and the Birth of Ishmael
Time passed, and Abram and Sarai had no children. Sarai was barren, and both were old. During this long wait, Sarai suggested that Abram have a child with her servant, Hagar. Abram agreed, and Hagar bore a son named Ishmael. Even as Ishmael was born, God reaffirmed His promise that Abram would be the father of many nations and that the covenant would be established through a son born to Sarai herself.
Throughout these years, Abraham continued to live in the land of Canaan. He built altars and called on the name of the Lord. The long wait persisted, but God’s promises remained firm. Abraham’s long wait: a story of God’s promises fulfilled was still unfolding, with signs and trials along the way.
The Covenant of Circumcision and the Name Change
When Abraham was ninety-nine years old, God appeared to him again. God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, meaning “father of many nations.” Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah, meaning “princess.” God promised that Sarah would bear a son, and His covenant would be established through this child.
God commanded Abraham to circumcise every male in his household as a sign of the covenant. Abraham obeyed, circumcising himself, his son Ishmael, and all the males in his house on the very same day. This act marked a new stage in Abraham’s long wait: a story of God’s promises fulfilled that was closer to completion.
The Divine Announcement of Isaac’s Birth
God visited Abraham again in the form of three men. Abraham welcomed them under the oaks of Mamre, prepared a meal, and served them. One of the visitors told Sarah, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” Sarah, listening nearby, laughed silently to herself because she was past the age of childbirth.
When Abraham questioned the visitor, he said, “Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time, I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” This promise revealed the final fulfillment awaiting Abraham during his long wait.
The Birth of Isaac
The following year, as God had spoken, Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham. They named him Isaac, which means “he laughs,” recalling Sarah’s earlier laughter at God’s promise. Isaac’s birth was a joyful moment in Abraham’s long wait: a story of God’s promises fulfilled.
Abraham circumcised Isaac on the eighth day, just as God commanded. The family rejoiced in the miracle of Isaac’s birth, the son through whom the covenant would continue. Through Isaac, the promise of a great nation began to take root in the land of Canaan.
Main Events of the Long Wait Leading to God’s Fulfillment
Before Isaac grew, God tested Abraham’s faith by commanding him to offer Isaac as a burnt offering on Mount Moriah. Abraham prepared to obey without hesitation. As he raised the knife to sacrifice his son, an angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, telling him not to harm the boy. God provided a ram in place of Isaac.
God affirmed His promise once more, saying that because Abraham obeyed, He would bless him and multiply his descendants. Abraham’s long wait: a story of God’s promises fulfilled, was sealed by this ultimate test of faith and God’s provision.
