"Abram was eighty-six years old when Ishmael was born.”
Genesis 16:16
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said,
‘I am El-Shaddai—God Almighty. Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life.’”
Genesis 17:1
It had been thirteen long years since Abram and Sarai had tried to create a miracle on their own. Now at ninety-nine years of age, Abram was still without God’s promised son. The couple was left wondering if they had destroyed His blessing on their lives. Why had God been so silent?
In reality, God was preparing Abram for a new revelation. Up to that point, Abram had only known God as Elohim (Creator) or Jehovah Elyon (God Most High). However, in the next chapter God disclosed another part of Himself, “I am El-Shaddai, God Almighty.” In other words, his God was ALL-powerful and ALL-sufficient! What a stunning truth for Abram to hear after years of focusing on the impossibilities of old age. Now he learned that God Almighty is not bound by laws of nature. Nothing could stop His promises!
God employs the difficult seasons in our lives to give us a fresh revelation of Himself. The years of waiting on the impossible may seem like an eternity, but when the page turns, there HE is…handing us a fresh glimpse of His character. These precious revelations shine the brightest in the dark times, and thankfully they can lead us on with renewed faith to a new chapter!
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