December 11 | Genesis 22:15-18

by Pr. Dave Mann

How many times do you need to be reminded of the faithfulness of God for you? How many times did God remind Abraham and his offspring of the certainty of God’s promise?

The first time we see God’s promise to Abram is in Genesis 12:1-3. God promised many things to Abram, including to make him a great nation and to bless all families on earth through him.

Perhaps as Abraham aged and still did not have a son through Sarah, he doubted the promise. So, the Lord reminded him in Genesis 15:1-6, "Indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the sky.... And Abram believed and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."

Then, again in Genesis 17:1-6, Abraham received another reminder of the promise of God to him and his offspring.

Then, we have the major test of Abraham’s faith with the offering of Isaac. Today’s text is God’s reiteration of the promise in Genesis 22:15-18. We also have a testimony to Abraham’s faith in Hebrews 11:17-19 that he believed God could even raise Isaac back from the dead.

The reminders of God’s promise did not stop with Abraham. The Lord repeated the covenant to Abraham’s son Isaac in Genesis 26:4. And later, he even reiterated the promise to his grandson Jacob in Genesis 35:10-12.

How many times do you and I need to be reminded of the goodness of God and the certainty of his promises to us? A LOT! I would like to think that I only need to be told once. But judging from the witness of Scripture and from my own experience, I need to hear God speak more often than just once.

We need to be reminded every time that we doubt. Whenever we let the promises of the world encroach on our understanding of what is real and valid, whenever we believe that having stuff is the measure of our value and worth, we need a reminder that what God says is true. That reminder comes as we read God’s word daily, as we celebrate the Sacrament of the Altar and hear the words, “Take and eat,” “Take and drink,” “Do this in remembrance of me,” “Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.” As we receive with faith, the body and blood of our crucified and risen Lord, we are reminded that what God has done in Christ is sufficient for our needs.

O God of the covenants, we are grateful you remind us of your goodness. Keep on coming with your frequent reminders. We need them more than we think. If Abraham needed them, if Isaac and Jacob needed them, if your people of biblical times needed them, how much more do we need them today? We believe because of your grace and faithfulness, in Jesus’ name, Amen.