Many years had passed from the time that God had told Abraham to leave the land of his youth and go into the land promised to him. Many years had passed from the time that God had promised Abraham that he would be a Father of and a Blessing to many nations. Sarah was now too old to have a child; yet, God had promised that Abraham would be fruitful through Sarah. Years had gone by and God had inch by inch, step by step guided the growth of Abraham’s faith. So, now at age 99, God comes to Abraham and identifies Himself as El Shaddai. This is the first time God has referred to Himself as El Shaddai in the scripture. Look at Genesis 17 in the Expanded Version.

Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2012 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws.

There would be no doubt as to God’s faithfulness and there would be no doubt as to God’s power, righteousness and justice. God would provide the means to destroy sin and death once and for all through Christ.

Genesis 17 (EXP) “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am ·God Almighty [^L El Shaddai]. ·Obey [^L Walk before] me and ·do what is right [^L be innocent/blameless; Job 1:1].² I will make an ·agreement [covenant; treaty; 6:18] between ·us[^L me and you], and I will make you ·the ancestor of many people[^L exceedingly numerous].”³ Then Abram ·bowed facedown on the ground [^L fell on his face]. God said to him, ⁴ “I am making my ·agreement [covenant; treaty;6:18] with you: I will make you the father of ·many [^L a host/multitude of] nations.”

There is some controversy as to translating the meaning of El Shaddai.

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The years continue to pass in Abraham’s life and God step by step continues to demonstrate His Faithfulness toward Abraham. Abraham has grown to see that God is His provider. When Melchizedek, “priest of the most high God” offered Abraham possessions; Abraham’s reply was that God was His provider and thus Abraham declined the offer. Yet, ten years have passed and still no child to fulfill the promise God had made to Abraham. God then “came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.² And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?³ And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.⁴ And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.⁵ And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.⁶ And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15) It would be 15 more years before Isaac would be born. God would be faithful, providing the seed that would lead to redemption. Abraham’s faith in that promise would waiver during those years, at times strong and others easily persuaded to take the matter into his own hands to “help God out.”

Is there any promise that you are awaiting God’s fulfillment? Is there any direction that you were sent by God and now you wonder if you heard Him right because now the future seems frightening? You had prayed, you had fasted, and you had been given clear direction. As a great leap of faith you obeyed. Then comes the famine, the waiting period, and a sense of anxiety rises so that you think perhaps God wants you to rush in and help Him fix this.

Many times, God delays His fulfillment of the plan for several reasons. Those reasons include:

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FAITH

By Effie Darlene Barba

Faith is the hope

When everything goes wrong

That rises from the ashes

To bring with it a song

Faith is the voice

That whispers in the night

Breaking through the silence

Gentle, sweet delight

Faith is the strength

That lifts you from the fall

With might to take one step

Or bound the highest wall

Faith is the Gift

Of God’s Unfailing Love

Cradled in His arms

Sweet lullaby above

© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to any brands, products or services that I have mentioned  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The magnitude of God’s covenant of redemption for self-exalting wicked mankind cannot be brushed by so quickly.  We need to tarry for a moment and look deeply into the covenant made with Abraham; perhaps, there we can begin to understand the significance that covenant holds for us.  When God called Abraham out, he had gone as God told him.  The covenant was established that through Abraham’s offspring would come the “Blessing to all the earth.”  The messiah, the Savior would be born to pay for our redemption. 

Artwork used by written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2010 Ronald Barba.

Have you ever needed to run back to the altar where you first came to Christ? (stumbling and with a humbled heart broken by the Majesty of God’s Grace toward you) How often, I have with a broken, contrite heart; humbled by God’s grace fallen before Him in repentance, love and adoration of Him

This covenant of redemption would be based on God’s Faithfulness in spite of man.  Abraham, much like we are too often; was a man of great faith at moments and of great failure at times.  With great patience and endurance, God remained faithful throughout the process of “growing up” the faith of Abraham.  Did God put a hedge about Abraham and protect him from every trial of life?  Indeed not.  More likely, Abraham faced greater dilemmas than most for the very purpose to

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After God’s continued grace and His covenant plan of redemption was revealed to Noah, it wasn’t long until mankind again continued in his own folly and self-pride.  Noah himself became drunken with wine and thus placed himself in a position that opened the door for one of his own sons to sin.  Had he forgotten all that God had done?  I think not.  Did he lose his salvation of faith?  No, but it shows that even the most faithful must remain sober, diligent and watchful of their relationship with the Heavenly Father. When we neglect to spend time in prayer and Bible Study we tend to allow our spirits and hearts to become filled with those things of this world.  As a father would, I am certain Noah was filled with remorse for his own foolishness.  As men began to increase in numbers again to replenish the earth, they desired to gather and prove that man could do anything in their own strength, they wanted to “build for themselves a name.”  Oh the folly of these self-exalting hearts of men.   Thus they were planning to build a tower to heaven on their own.  God divided them by language and geographically there at the tower of Babel. (Genesis 11) Once more, the wickedness and the evil of man began to cover all of the earth.  God then chose Abraham and set forth His covenant with Abraham as follows.

photo used by permission of @istock

God’s Covenant of Redemption by Future Grace given to Abraham was given by Faith Alone.

Genesis 12: “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:² And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:³ And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

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