Hello Kingdom Family,

Welcome to our Jesus-centered community. We are glad you are listening to today’s message.

“We are People Helping People Experience a Jesus-centered Life.”

Today’s message focuses Genesis 15:1–6; 18:9–15; 21:1–7 | The Story of Abraham & Sarah.

Most people know that the Christmas season begins with an unlikely married couple. So we’re starting there. But we’re not starting with the married couple, you think. It’s not Jesus’ mom or dad. It’s much further back than that. We’re beginning centuries before Jesus—with Abraham and Sarah.

Abraham and Sarah are the first couple in Jesus’ genealogy. They are best known for the radical promise God made to them. When Abraham was 99 years old (Genesis 17:1) and Sarah was 90 (Genesis 17:17), God said he would give this barren couple a son (cf. Genesis 15:4–5; 18:10).

Abraham and Sarah knew enough about human reproduction for this to be an unbelievable promise. God visited Abraham no fewer than three times to remind him of this promise (Genesis 12:1–4; 15:4–5; 17:1–8). It was so unrealistic that both Abraham and Sarah laughed out loud at the prospect (Genesis 17:17; 18:12). And before we judge them too harshly, let’s keep in mind that nearly every one of us would have had the same response!

In the end, however, Abraham believed God’s promise (Genesis 15:6). And in the end, God fulfilled it, miraculously giving Abraham and Sarah a son, Isaac (Genesis 21:3)—whose name means “He laughs,” a playful reminder of the child’s remarkable birth story. Abraham and Sarah’s mocking
laughter had transformed into unbridled tears of joy.

Abraham and Sarah had wanted a son for decades. God had promised a son for years. And while it felt painfully slow, God was moving. He made a promise, and he delivered on it.

Isaac was not just a joy for Abraham and Sarah. He was an integral part of God’s plan, too. Through this son, God would start a family line that would overturn the curse brought on by Adam and Eve. Through this son, God would provide a way to bring renewed blessing to the earth (Genesis 12:1–3). And generations later, God would keep another promise through another miraculous son in this line. That child, Jesus Christ, would forever and finally prove that however slow God seems, his “slowness” is not a sign of his absence.

The Apostle Peter reminds us, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). In other words, God is not slow. He is patient. That distinction also allows us to be patient, waiting for him to fulfill his promises.

For some of us, God will act sooner than we imagine—healing an illness, reconciling a broken relationship, ending an addiction. For others, God will ask us to wait until he returns. For all of us, God’s promise of restoration in Jesus is certain. Though it seems slow, it will come.

Before you listen to the message, you are encouraged to go to our website and download the lesson bulletin for this message, dated December 3, 2023. The publication contains questions to reflect on as an individual, couple, or small group. You can find them on the home page by clicking the Bulletins and Lesson Plans tab. Today’s message is “The Promise of God’s Presence .”

If you have been blessed by this message, please share it with others.

Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook.

If you would like to support Hill-Tran Ministries, please go to www.hilltran.org/online-giving/. You will have a drop-down menu to choose which campus you wish to support, HUMC or TUMC; then, you can select which fund and how much you want to give. We would greatly appreciate a gift of any amount. PayPal is the provider of our electronic giving, so it’s safe and secure.

Shalom,

Hill-Tran Ministries