Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

“…the Lord did for Sarah what he has promised.” God never fails to keep his promises – not even the most unlikely ones. A year prior to this (Genesis 18:1-15) God told Abraham he and Sarah would have a baby boy within the year. At the time he was almost 100 and she was about 90 – certainly well past the age of having babies! And yet a baby she did have and the joy he brought. He gave her such joy he was named Isaac, meaning “he laughs.”

Prior to this, the likelihood of God keeping the promise of giving Abraham more descendants than stars in the sky seemed most unlikely. They had even taken matters into their own hands which did not go well. But finally, and in spite of at one point they gave up on God, he didn’t give up on them, and he kept his promise and gave them a son. The birth was a miracle and the fulfillment of a promise.

Doesn’t that sound familiar? About 2000 years later another promise would be made of a son but this time to a young woman not yet married, and like Isaac brought great joy to his parents, this baby would bring joy to the world.

Let us pray.

O holy God, we give you thanks that you keep your promises to us. We know we can trust you to do what you say you will do. May we not try to do things on our own when you have a better plan in mind. Help us to be patient, even when the promise seems a long time in coming. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Questions

Has God done things in your life that at one point seemed impossible? Give God thanks for how he has worked in your life.

Is there something impossible you are waiting for now? Have you spoken to God about it? What has he told you?

Does laughter and joy feel hard this Christmas? Bring that to God. He understands our pain and sorrows.