Throughout Abram’s story we see his faults vividly. He detours and deceives people, and others continue to suffer the consequences of his actions. How many more chances would Abram get? How many more people would need to suffer?
Even as Abram detoured and deceived people, God saw and saved him. Woven throughout Abram’s story is God’s faithfulness, not only to Abram, but also to Abram’s servants and descendants.
One such example is found in Genesis 16. Abram detoured once again to try to fulfill the promises of God himself. Abram took his wife’s servant, Hagar, and had a son with her. While Hagar was pregnant, Sarai cast her out. The Bible says God saw her in the desert and protected her (Genesis 16:13). Later, after Isaac was born, Hagar and her son, Ishmael, were once again cast out. God saw the great injustice toward Hagar and her son. Not only did God see Hagar and her son, he also added blessing to their lives (Genesis 21:18).
God’s faithfulness extends through the covenant he made with Abram. God extended his love and faithfulness to others even when Abram was unfaithful.
In Abram’s story we see our stories. We see the ways we use others to protect ourselves, the ways we deceive others because we are afraid, and the ways we take the fulfillment of God’s word to us into our own hands. We are not so different from Abram.
As we sin, God remains faithful. As our actions cause suffering for others, God sees and saves us. This does not excuse us from doing good and living aligned with God’s ways. It is a reminder that our actions are not more powerful than God’s actions and that nothing can thwart God’s promises to us and to others.
At last, in Genesis 21:1–7 we read of God’s fulfillment of a descendant through the promise of a son, Isaac. Abram and Sarai could not bring God’s covenant to fruition on their own, but God would do it, just as he promised. He would do so in an unimaginable and miraculous way—the pregnancy of a woman who was beyond childbearing years. He would do so in a way that no one could deny it was a work of his hands. With the promise of a son came new names for Abram and Sarai; they would be called Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 17:4–15). Sarah’s pregnancy and their name changes were markers of God’s covenant. Abraham’s new name meant “Father of Multitudes,” and Sarah’s corresponded to mean “Mother of Nations.” God saw and fulfilled his covenant to them.
To know that God remains faithful even when I sin against Him makes me realized how great His love is. I can trust in His promises and wait. He will fulfill what He has promised.
While we are waiting, sometimes we wonder if God needs our help or maybe He has forgotten, but that’s a lie. God sees me truly.
Knowing this, I can show mercy and care. Defend their cause and speak out on their defense.
Knowing that he loves me in spite of me just encourages me more to be aware of my sorry comings and work on them so that my life can reflect Jesus!
Not judging them but instead showing them the same mercy and grace God had shown me.
God is a loving God. He always forgives even when we are unfaithful. I can minister to others who have suffered consequences of another’s sin since I have suffered due to another’s sin against me. I can offer hope and encouragement when there seems to be none.
It gives me so much hope and shows me how deeply loved I am and it fills me with awe and praise. I can take care of others by showing them the same love and compassion I, myself, have received.
That God will forgive again and again and again is humbling. That we serve such a merciful and patient God gives me hope for the future.
I need to show the same mercy and care to others even when they make bad decisions or are victims.