The Ben Smart Blog

S3E4 – When God’s Promises Seem Slow (Gen 16-17)

Faith On Campus Podcast - When God's Promises Seems Slow

This week’s episode of Faith On Campus is the fourth talk in a sermon series looking at the life of Abraham. In this episode we look at Genesis 16-17, “When God’s Promises Seem Slow.”

In Genesis 12, God makes some pretty huge promises to Abraham and Sarah, including a promise that they’ll have many descendants who will become a great nation. But by the time we get to Genesis 16, ten years have past, and they still don’t have a single child! By this point Abraham is 85 and Sarah is 75, and God’s promises are looking less and less likely.

So what do Abraham and Sarah do? They decide to take things into their own hands. They say “Yes” to God’s promises, but they try to do it in their own timing, and their own way, rather than trusting in His. And it doesn’t go well!

This passage has a lot to teach us as followers of Jesus today, especially when God’s promises seem slow.


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