I read something interesting in Romans this morning that made me think. This is about Abraham’s promise from God to have a son.

“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”^{[a] 19} Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. ²⁰ Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹ being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”

The part that stuck out to me was where it says “he did not waver though unbelief regarding the promise of God…”. I thought I remembered the story of Abraham and how he had been told by God that he would be the father of many nations and then turned around and had a son with his servant Hagar at Sarah’s request. So, Hagar has a son and Sarah runs her off, essentially. You can find all of that in Genesis 15-17. The interesting thing is that even after all this happened God gives Abraham a second chance and comes to him again and makes the same promise for him to be the father of many nations. And now in Romans it says that Abraham never wavered in his belief. God doesn’t even mention all that happened in Genesis. God wipes the slate clean and says Abraham was a just man.

It is really amazing to me that God demonstrates here what He has said He would do all along..forgive sins and remember them no more. I have read that, but I guess I didn’t really believe it. But here it is in black and white. God sees Abraham as just and does not remember the part of Abraham’s life where he messed up. God was still faithful to fulfill His promise even though Abraham tried to make it happen in his time and his way. Don’t we all do that sometimes? I know I have. God makes a promise and we try to get it done in our timing and not wait for Him. I really want to remember today the verse in Romans, “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹ being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Am I fully persuaded that God has the power to do what he has promised in my life?