When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty (El Shaddai); walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”

Genesis 17:1-2

Abraham was 100 years old when God finally gave him the son that was promised 25 years earlier. Twenty. Five. Years.

We get impatient waiting in line for five minutes! And when answers to prayer aren’t as swift as we hope, it can cause us to question God. At 99 years old, that’s exactly what Abraham does:

. . . But God, I still don’t have a child. (vs. 15:2)

. . . But God, my inheritance will go to a servant. (vs. 15:3)

. . . But God, how can I believe any of this will happen? (vs. 15:8)

. . . But God!

Nothing about it made sense, so surely it was time to take matters into his own hands…to help God out. Abraham and his wife begin to plot, with the best intentions, and to find a way for Abraham to have a child with another woman. Then, God’s promise will be fulfilled. And soon, Ishmael was born.

But 13 years later, God returned with his original promise, making it clear that Ishmael was not the child God promised. In fact, the promised child would be born to Abraham’s wife. His old wife. And again, he tries to make sense of it.

Abraham fell facedown and laughed: 

“Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” (Genesis 17:17-18)

We are fixers. When circumstances are difficult and confusing in our lives or the lives of our kids, we can get impatient and jump into action, with the best intentions. But what if God has a better plan? What if he wants us to simply be still and wait for him to work things out for a greater good?

When Abraham became impatient, God said: “I am El Shaddai; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant…” In other words, I am in control. Focus on doing what’s right and let me take care of the rest.

El Shaddai has absolute power over every circumstance and every situation. He caused a ninety-year-old woman to give birth and he has the power to provide, supply, nourish, and satisfy our every need…if and when he chooses. When the waiting gets long and your heart can’t make sense of it, trust that El Shaddai knows and that he is working things out in his perfect timing.

Making it Personal

  • What am I continuing to wait for in my life or the lives of my adult children?
  • In what ways do I find myself plotting to intervene? 
  • Ask God to calm your heart, to give you patience as you wait, and to increase your trust in El Shaddai.
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