13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

The Lord had blessed him in every way.

As he neared the end of his life, Abraham looked back over his journey of fellowship with the Lord. And as he did, his heart swelled with gratitude over God’s faithfulness to his promises. The Lord had brought him into the Promised Land and had given him and his wife, Sarah, the gift of their son, Isaac. It was these memories of God’s goodness that guided Abraham as he moved forward with the Lord.

Abraham had just purchased his first tiny holding in the Promised Land, a burial place for Sarah, who had just died. Through his grief, he considered the one thing that remained to be settled: finding a good wife for Isaac. When Abraham sent his trusted servant back to his kinsmen in search of a bride for his son, the servant asked, “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I then take your son back to the land?” (Genesis 24:5).

Abraham didn’t hesitate to answer: “Never!” Having come this far on his journey, he knew there was no turning back for him or any member of his family. God’s faithfulness had guided him as he had raised Isaac and made a life in the Promised Land. And that faithfulness guided how he looked into the future. Because God had provided for him, Abraham knew he could count on God to provide for Isaac as well.

As he did with Abraham, God has made promises to us. He promises to be with us always (Matthew 28:20). He promises us forgiveness of our sins (John 20:23). And he promises eternal life to all who believe (5:24). As we look back over our lives, we are sure to see signs of God’s faithfulness to these promises. Maybe it was an unexpected sense of peace in the midst of a trying time. Maybe it was a sense of freedom after you confessed your sin. Or maybe it was a sudden feeling of eager expectation for heaven. All these are proofs that God is watching over you and blessing you.

God is faithful. Let that truth help you, like Abraham, respond to him with your own faithfulness. Let it convince you that you can count on his provision for you and your family long into the future.

“Father, thank you for your promises. Help me to look back on your faithfulness and move forward with hope!”

Genesis 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67
Psalm 106:1-5
Matthew 9:9-13