"And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—Isaac. Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, 'God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.' She also said, 'Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.'"
Genesis 21:1-7
Consider the placement of this text. Chapter 20 details the Abraham's digression back into sin. He has traveled south and whenever that happens, his faith goes south as well! Abraham and Sarah defrauded Abimelech, lying about their true status as a married couple. They were caught "red handed" They had conspired to lie in chapter 20 and were now being blessed by God in chapter 21!
In our way of thinking, Abraham and Sarah's bad behavior should disqualify them from receiving God's blessing. Sure, if chapter 20 had documented a spiritual high point, we might understand God's blessing of them in chapter 21. But one almost wants to ask God if He read that chapter! "Did you not see that Abraham lied because of his fear and that he admitted that this was a perpetual practice? Some will cry "foul," but the older we get in the Lord, the more we understand that God cannot be anything else but faithful to Himself and His promises! He is devoted to keeping His promises despite our failings. Listen to how the Apostle Paul puts it:
"This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself."
II Timothy 2:11-14
God made a promise and He kept it to a couple that at times, would not believe that God would bring it to pass. What an example to you and I? Even when we are faithless, He remains faithful. I'm glad that's the way that it is. His loving faithfulness draws me to a faithful response!
