Genesis 21

God keeps His Word

The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. ~ Genesis 21:1

There is something powerful about seeing a long-awaited promise finally come to pass. In Genesis 21, we witness a miracle of Sarah giving birth to Isaac. She was well beyond childbearing years, and so was Abraham. But God had spoken, and even though it took years, even though they made mistakes along the way, God kept His word.

This passage gives me hope, especially when I think about the promises I’ve been holding onto for what feels like a long time. Some of them I’ve carried quietly in my heart, praying, waiting, wondering if I even heard God right. There have been times I’ve grown tired and tried to “help” God by creating my own version of the promise. But those efforts only left me feeling more frustrated and disappointed.

Recently, I’ve seen God begin to answer some of the prayers I had nearly given up on. They aren’t complete yet and for sure do not look like what I imagined. But I can say with confidence that He is faithful. His timing is not always easy to wait on, but it is always perfect and I am so thankful that I can depend on that!!

Genesis 21 reminds me that even when it takes time, even when I have doubts, God keeps His promises. He doesn’t forget what He spoke. He does not tease or delay out of cruelty. He is preparing the right time, the right place, and sometimes even the right version of me to receive what He promised.

Maybe you are in a season of waiting right now. Maybe you feel like too much time has passed, or you think you’ve messed up too badly to still be in line for what God promised. But take heart. If God spoke it, He will bring it to pass.

Here are some ways to stay encouraged while waiting on the promises of God to show up:

• Write down what He promised you. Go back to the original word or moment and write it somewhere visible.
• Thank Him in advance. Worship builds faith. Start thanking Him now as if the promise is already being fulfilled.
• Let go of the timeline. God is not late. Trust that He is preparing more than you can see.
• Keep moving forward. While you wait, keep serving, keep growing, and keep building. Let God find you faithful.
• Encourage someone else. When you speak hope to others, it often strengthens your own faith too.

Today I want to encourage you because God has not forgotten you. He is not finished with your story. What He promised you is still alive, even if it has been quiet for a while. Just as He did for Sarah, He will do for you. Stay close to Him. Stay available. Stay hopeful. The God who keeps His word is still working behind the scenes, and when His time comes, it will be better than anything you could have arranged on your own.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Genesis 21

1 The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised.

2 She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would.

3 And Abraham named their son Isaac.

4 Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded.

5 Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.

6 And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me.

7 Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”

Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away

8 When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, Abraham prepared a huge feast to celebrate the occasion.

9 But Sarah saw Ishmael—the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making fun of her son, Isaac.

10 So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!”

11 This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son.

12 But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.

13 But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.”

14 So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.

15 When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush.

16 Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. “I don’t want to watch the boy die,” she said, as she burst into tears.

17 But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.

18 Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.”

19 Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.

20 And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness. He became a skillful archer,

21 and he settled in the wilderness of Paran. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt.

22 About this time, Abimelech came with Phicol, his army commander, to visit Abraham. “God is obviously with you, helping you in everything you do,” Abimelech said.

23 “Swear to me in God’s name that you will never deceive me, my children, or any of my descendants. I have been loyal to you, so now swear that you will be loyal to me and to this country where you are living as a foreigner.”

24 Abraham replied, “Yes, I swear to it!”

25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had taken by force from Abraham’s servants.

26 “This is the first I’ve heard of it,” Abimelech answered. “I have no idea who is responsible. You have never complained about this before.”

27 Abraham then gave some of his sheep, goats, and cattle to Abimelech, and they made a treaty.

28 But Abraham also took seven additional female lambs and set them off by themselves.

29 Abimelech asked, “Why have you set these seven apart from the others?”

30Abraham replied, “Please accept these seven lambs to show your agreement that I dug this well.” 31Then he named the place Beersheba (which means “well of the oath”), because that was where they had sworn the oath.

32After making their covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech left with Phicol, the commander of his army, and they returned home to the land of the Philistines.

33Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he worshiped the Lord, the Eternal God.

34And Abraham lived as a foreigner in Philistine country for a long time.

Journal Prompts:
• What promise are you still believing God for?
• Have you grown discouraged or tried to force the outcome in your own strength?
• Write a prayer of renewed trust, asking God to help you wait well and recognize His faithfulness in the process.