[Note: We regret the poor sound quality of this recording, but are presenting it here for the sake of completeness. See attached PDF transcript.]
Early in today's passage we hear that Abram has been in the land for ten years. Ten years – and no children. Later we hear that he is 86 years old when Ishmael is born. These time markers remind us that God's timing does not neatly fit into what we would like.
So Abram and Sarai decide to take matters into their own hands. Today Sarai would have proposed in vitro fertilization, or other technological solutions. But until recently, the only solution to barrenness was the one that Sarai proposed:
We saw last time that when God makes his covenant with Abram, God alone passes between the pieces of the animals. God alone will fulfill his covenant.
“Don't just do something, stand there!â€
Abram can do nothing to bring about the fulfillment of the covenant. Abram can do nothing to achieve the salvation of the human race.
Salvation is the work of God. When it comes to accomplishing redemption, Abram is impotent. You cannot save yourself.
Left to human ingenuity and know-how, humanity would perish. Because only God can save.
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