JOY
Press In To Press On #11
Mark Geppert
Sarah laughed. After the birth of Isaac, she said, “God has made me laugh, and all who have heard will laugh with me.” (Gen. 21:6). Sarah had a rhema. God had spoken the impossible to her and her belief that God is and is faithful had given her the strength to conceive. (Heb. 11:11)
Sarah’s rejoicing brings hope to those who may be in the sixth year of a ten year promise of God. Sarah laughed when she heard the Lord tell Abraham that he would have a son and that that son would be the first of a multitude too great to be numbered. She looked at her physical condition, age, age of her husband and laughed aloud. The impossibility of the situation was humorous to her. She had already dealt with distain. She knew the loneliness of her plight and had worked through being the wife of a man to whom the voice of God was becoming more familiar.
Nomad herdsmen, they had moved through hill and valley feeding the flock. They lived a very simple life, compelled by a promise, seeking a dwelling place of God. The city they sought was far off, not any cities of the land through which they trod. In fact, they would never be satisfied by cities built with hands; for as Moses would follow a cloud, they followed the presence of God which they were learning to seek. God is and is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb.11:6) Having heard His voice, felt His presence, and seen His power, Abraham and Sarah were set to seek Him all their days.
Abraham and Sarah were in a 10 year promise from the Lord. In the fullness of God’s perfect timing she would receive from the One who Promised the strength to conceive. The rhema for conception had been spoken to her, “and as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven and do not return there but water the earth and make it bring forth seed for the sower and bread for the eater. So, shall my word that goes forth from my mouth: It shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please. And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10,11)
Abraham believed and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Sarah believed and received the faith to conceive the child of promise. The word which God had given was mixed with faith, the substance of things hoped for, and produced the fulfillment of the purpose of God, beginning a lineage that would one day bring forth the savior of the world. God, through this believing woman, brought forth the heir of the promise and the progenitor a multitude from every tribe and tongue. God’s pleasure was bringing joy to the daughter through which destiny was born.
The sixth year of a ten year promise can be very difficult. It was for Abraham and Sarah. Having heard the plan of God, to populate the earth. And, having no child to do that, they leaned to their own resource to accomplish the promise. Abraham, now capable, joined with the maid, a common practice in the culture, and they produced Ishmael. But, this young man, though a son of Abraham, was not the promised heir. God is faithful and made a covenant with Ishmael and made him the father of 12 tribes. But, God continued to watch over His word to perform it.
Under pressure we could make a mistake in the sixth year. We could make an Ishmael. But that does not cancel the promise. God will, as we call upon Him, bring us back to the power of His rhema.
Press in to press on.
Do not give up.
In the end, you will go out with joy.
Mark
