All of us have heard the statement: God helps those who help themselves. It is a lie! God doesn’t want our help. He wants our obedience. So many times, I have used my own resources or ingenuity on a home project, correcting my son or ministry assignment and failed miserably. If I submit to God and do what He tells me, the result is so much better. I often see miracles, God-incidents and convergences take over. Abram faced a thorny situation that lasted many years. Thirteen years passed after Ismael was born.
God told Abram that He was the powerful or mighty one. It was frustrating to Abram that he took matters into his own hands by having a son, Ismael, through his handmaid instead of trusting God. He assured Abram of physical descendants, but told him to walk in integrity and purity. He would reward Abram as the father of many nations and kings (Gen. 17:1-7). Walking close to God with integrity reaps the reward of spiritual descendants and kingdom fruitfulness. We become a difference maker in our sphere of influence.
God commanded all male descendants to be circumcised as a sign or proof of the covenant. Disobedience caused excommunication or being cut off from the covenant (Gen. 17:9-11,14). It was humbling for Abram to obey God, but like him, our sacrifice allows us to benefit from covenantal blessings.
When God told Abram that he would have children, he laughed because of his age, 100, and Sarah’s age, 90 (Gen. 17:17). God’s promise and miraculous intervention overrule the laws of nature and science.
God remained faithful to Ismael. He blessed Ismael and made him fruitful so he would bear a great nation and father 12 princes (Gen. 17:20). God works behind the scenes to fulfill the destiny of families and nations.
We prepare for God’s supernatural and miracle working power by obeying God. In Abram’s case, he obeyed God by circumcising his family as an act of humility (Gen. 17:27).
What is God asking you to do? He may be preparing you for a miracle.
