Not Taking the Human Route

Abraham and Sarah, both convinced they are past it, can't see how God can fulfil His promise that they would have a son through which a great nation will be built and blessing to many will come. They are on board with the promises sure enough, but can't see how it might work out at ground level.

So Sarah suggests a plan B (Genesis 16), and Abraham obliges. It produces a son sure enough, but it wasn't what God had in mind. Anxst and upset follows, yet note how God still brings blessing through this thoroughly human effort - God graciously accommodates to our works.

In Genesis 17 God repeats the covenant deal, and re-iterates the promise that Abraham would have a son by Sarah through which the full blessing would come. But Abraham still doesn't get it! Spiritually it remains a great promise, but as per verse 18 on ground level Abraham would still take the human route.

And that's often the problem for many of us. Many of us can get on board with the spiritual stuff, but in practice we still make human contingency plans. The full blessing of God, however, comes through His provision alone given supernaturally against normal odds. Our plans and efforts by comparison don't even come close.