The work done by God in the life of Abraham, already a hundred years old, still causes admiration today among those who know it. After all, Jesus would be born into the family chosen by the Heavenly Father. Imagine if Abraham had given up on fulfilling the purpose for which he was prepared by the Lord – to be the patriarch of a lineage that, about two thousand years later, would reach a woman named Mary, his descendant, who accepted the call to be the mother of the Savior!

Since his marriage, how many years did Abraham wait for the news of Sarah's pregnancy? The patriarch's hope never disappeared; on the contrary, it was strengthened by all the works he perceived to be the results of God's action. "Why doesn't the boy come soon?" that must have been the patriarch's thought, but he remained confident that the time for his son's birth would come. When there was no longer any possibility from a human perspective, three angels came to him and gave him the good news. Never give up on God's promises!

We can remember the difficult moment that Abraham went through in Egypt when the Pharaoh took his beloved to marry her (Genesis 12:14-15). What could he do if the man was the highest authority in that country? Would God help him, or was His promise no longer valid? Knowing how to act, the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife (verse 17).

Isaac could have been the great-great-great-grandson of the patriarch, but the Creator decided that he would be the son of the centenarian, and so it happened. Imagine how many laughed when they saw Abraham embracing the boy. Did some think that Isaac might have some deficiency because he was the child of a couple already advanced in age? It didn't matter what the people thought, for the boy was born with all faculties perfectly intact, without any sign of illness. He is faithful!

In Heaven, we will know the great joy that filled the heart of that man of God and his wife, who became pregnant as if she were young: By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised (Hebrews 11:11). Husband and wife served the Creator with the same kind of faith. Therefore, he received the gift of becoming active again, and she the gift of conceiving!

The Lord can also grant that same blessing today to a couple facing difficulties in having children. However, as long as the husband or wife are not in full communion with the Most High, the long-awaited news will probably not come. If He did it for one couple, why wouldn't He do it for another? When someone receives from God the virtue to overcome a problem, that virtue remains with the person forever.

Abraham obtained victory because he believed and fought by faith. He stood before the Lord until the battle was won. When we hear a promise from God, we can be certain that we have already received the blessing. Just trust and never back down, for the Most High helps us even when we think of giving up. Sometimes, He allows us to reach our limit, and then comes the awaited news: “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame”

 (Romans 10:11).

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares