GENESIS 17 90 AND 100
On my journey through history, a very impressive event took place when Abram was 99 years old. God spoke to him personally and repeated the terms of His covenant with this man of faith. As soon as God addressed him, he fell on his face before the Lord. I watched him in this position and thought, "That is the way I should be when God speaks to me." There is something about bent knees and a bowed head that sends a message of respect more than any other posture a man may take. But this was obviously a special moment. Something was different this time between God and His friend. Even after all those years of communion with God, there is the evidence of the reverence and awareness of the Almighty God that prostrated this man before his Maker. Previously God was to Abram a shield and reward. Now He is revealed to him as the Almighty God. At 99 years of age Abraham has learned to depend on God alone for everything.
The effect of this revelation brought him to realize as never before, God's greatness and his own nothingness. Previously his interests were in himself and his needs. Now God Himself is the Object of his delight and life. God was for him in grace and love before. Now the covenant with the Almighty God takes on a new dimension and new meaning. Before, he was Abram, "the exalted father." Now God Himself renamed him calling him, Abraham, "the father of many (nations)." Now the issue isn't just focused on God's grace to him; but through him, God's grace goes to the many - and still does today.
God honored His servant and assured him of his fruitfulness even though he was well up in years. He and his family would enjoy a special close relationship with God. Now, instead of being the head of a small obscure tribe of people unknown and overlooked by the great nations of earth, they would be the source of inspiration and blessing to all the nations of the world. Through this man of faith, "the father of the faithful," there has come everlasting blessing to millions of people down through the ages.
Something new happened to him at 99 that changed his attitude and his whole family direction. Now his walk was suited to God's desire because he was blessed by God, not to obtain a blessing from God.
As Abraham had raised himself to rise and walk before the Lord, the Lord repeated a promise He had made years before. At an earlier time, it would have been a natural event. Now it was supernatural. In the past it was expected. Now it would be a miracle. Sarah was to have a son at 90 years of age. Instead of being called Sarai (controlling), she was now called Sarah (princess, noble female). Abraham would be 100 years old when the promised son would be born. There would never, nor could there ever be, a question as to the fact that this was the promised son; the answer to God's plans for the ages to come. The blessing of God to the world would come through this promised son.
In my overview of looking back on events, I can envision the heart of the father of Ishmael who could already see the tendency of the son of the bondwoman, and he asks God a favor for the son of his flesh. How gracious of God to assure His servant of the future of this willful son.
I noticed a very impressive, and to me impacting, response of Abraham to the covenant God made with him. Immediately he kept the terms of the covenant that was his responsibility and the blood of the covenant ratified the agreement. He did not wait for a more convenient time to do what God told him. And even though the whole tribe would have been in jeopardy for some days following the rite of circumcision, in faith he trusted in God's protection and made sure the Lord knew the reality of his commitment.
As I watched in my mind, I learned that God is faithful to His promises and according to His timetable, He will bring to pass what He has said He will do. Perhaps in a sense it is even more important that I learn to respond quickly to what God expects of me. There is no reason for me to wait to do what God tells me to do. To put anything off until it is convenient for me is an act of serious neglect, and in a sense, of defiance on my part. That would imply that I will do what God says, only on my terms. How insulting and sinful such a thing would be.
I must be careful to quickly obey - even me!
To have a meeting with the Lord is always a significant moment. There is an awareness of our acceptance with God because of the blood of atonement. Other times there is a different kind of fellowship because of God's authority. There is a sense of overwhelming awe, when I speak with God Almighty.
This is not a time of fatherly care but of just and eternal affairs. The present situations of daily life fade as everlasting things seem to appear.
When God speaks of nations as "a drop in the bucket," all other things seem so small. One really needs his face to the ground when I then on His name will call.
This is different from "Give us this day our daily bread," the future is in full view. Centuries in the future are spoken of as already accomplished, and the past is rightly reviewed. Instead of the things of daily and family life, God gives a glimpse to me - Of how things are going to happen in days to come and what my little role will be.
The impressions made on me when such experiences come are hard to describe. I am caused to stop and review my own life and it truly humbles my pride. Who am I to be able to be involved in helping to build an everlasting kingdom? And what have I ever contributed to future days that I might be able to see them?
I believe it is true because the Bible says we are heirs and joint heirs with Christ. So, I do accept this as fact but with fear and trembling I rise to walk in His light. There is no reason except for the grace of God that He would speak to me. Yet in spite of my nothingness I have a part in the kingdom which I will see.
I learn from Abraham that he felt the same as he fell on his face before God. Then again, he fell down before God when he learned he would have a son when he was old. By God's mercy and grace, He has allowed me to see spiritual children even yet. When I hear them pray and see life-changes, I am thankful that God didn't me forget.
That is why I am here after many years and am still allowed to preach God's Word. I know I couldn't so a thing or produce anything to profit without the power of the Lord. Still I am expecting God to bring blessing even though I am feeble and weak - Because He is the Almighty God who created the universe and still spiritual children seeks.
There is no doubt my faith is weak, but still, I think it is stronger Then it was when I was young, because I know my limitations more now; I have lived much longer. Anything that is done that has eternal value is a work of God alone - Yet He gives me the privilege of speaking for Him, so I must give God all the glory when done.
"Father, at this moment for some reason my knees are weak. I feel like am face down before Thee. May I never, ever take Thee for granted. May I never loose sight of the fact that Thou art the Almighty God. May I never get casual with Thee. May I always give due respect to Thee, even though I am privileged to say, 'Abba Father.' In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."