Devotionals

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Dearly Beloved,
WHEN GOD IS SILENT
"Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael. When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless" (Genesis 16:16—17:1, NIV).
Abraham was seventy-five years old when God told him to leave his people and go to a land that He would show him. This command was with a seven-fold promise that God would make Abraham into a great nation; that God would bless him; that God would make his name great; that he would be a blessing; that God would bless those who bless him, and curse those who curse him; and that all people on earth would be blessed through him (see Genesis 12:1-4). These promises were made to a man that did not have any biological child at seventy-five. Yet he believed God and obeyed Him. After some time, God reaffirmed His promises for him, but he wondered how the promises would be fulfilled since he remained childless. He even reasoned that his head servant would inherit his possession. However, God reassured him that "a son coming from [his] own body will be [his] heir" (Genesis 15:4, NIV), and that his descendants would inherit the land where he was a stranger. Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
However, when it seemed that God was silent and relented in fulfilling His promise to give him a son, Sarah, Abraham’ wife, and he tried to help God. They arranged that the maidservant of Sarah should bear children for Abraham. This according to their custom was right, but that was not God’s absolute plan for them. At eighty-six, Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant bore Abraham a son named Ishmael. It was as if God was still silent about His promises for Abraham for another thirteen years. Abraham might have been thinking that God would fulfill His promises through Ishmael. In fact, he argued in that direction when God appeared to him again after thirteen years when he doubted the fact that Sarah could still bear a son in her old age and told God to let Ishmael receive the blessings. God told him that His absolute will was for Isaac, the son that Sarah would bear, not Ishmael (Genesis 17:15-21). It might seem as if God was silent, but He had a plan for Abraham and Sarah, and He declared the plan: "…my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year" (Genesis 17:21, NIV). God did fulfill His plans and promises in the life of Abraham.
In what way is God silent about your affairs? Have you lost confidence in Him for His silence? Are you trying to help God? It may seem as if God is silent, but He is not. He has a better plan for you. He says, "For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV). Hear this also: "‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed’" (Isaiah 55:8-13, NIV).
When God is seemingly silent about your affair, He wants you to "walk before [Him] and be blameless" (Genesis 17:1, NIV). That is, be faithful and wait for His miracle. It may be in a long time, but He will certainly do it!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NB
This message was first posted on October 8, 2006.

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