Impossible Promises

We find clues that begin to enlighten us to the improbability of this promise when we look at the passages before and after this promise was given.

Genesis 11:30 tells us that Abram's wife Sarai was barren; she had no children. When we look ahead to Genesis 12:4, we learn that Abram was 75 years old when he received this message from God and chose to obey God's instructions. From all appearances, it looked unlikely that God was making a literal promise to Abram.

What did Abram think? Perhaps he thought it still possible, although unlikely, that Sarai could bear children. Maybe he considered the promise to be figurative in a way. In either case, he believed God and obeyed His call.

A few years later, God renewed his promise to Abram, and Abram questioned God's meaning. He saw the unlikelihood of the promise and tried to figure out a different means to the outcome.

After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”

And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”

Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:1-6

The Promise Becomes a Covenant

Because Abram believed God, God turned the promise into a covenant, assuring Abram he could be confident that He truly meant what He said. God then confirmed the covenant with a smoking pot and flaming torch that passed between the offerings.

When Abram had reached the age of 99, God returned to renew the covenant with Abram. He assured Abram that he and Sarai would finally have the promised son who would be the first evidence of the impossible promise. As a sign of the fulfillment to come, God also changed their names to Abraham and Sarah.

Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised.
Genesis 21:1

When Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90, they saw a glimpse of the fulfillment of the impossible promise. Isaac's birth was the beginning of the promised nation that indeed is blessing all nations through the provision of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

A Promise Surrendered

Sometimes, God asks us to give up the dreams and promises we have received as we are called to demonstrate our faith in Him alone. This happened when He asked Abraham to surrender his son Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham trusted God enough to take Isaac on the journey to the mountain God had shown him. When they drew near, Abraham had his servants wait and assured them, “We will return to you.” When Isaac asked where the lamb was, his father answered prophetically, “God Himself will provide the lamb.”

When God saw Abraham's faith demonstrated by his actions and willingness to implicitly trust God, God Himself provided the sacrificial lamb and renewed His promise of future blessings.

This promise looked dubious at various times in history. Isaac was the first miracle of the promise, through whom the nation would come. However, when Isaac married, the promise looked doubtful once again.

A Promise Reclaimed

Isaac had to accept the promise for himself and put faith in the One who promised. After not seeing children of his own, he prayed for his wife and God brought forth the next generation of the promise.

Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.
Genesis 25:21

Decades later, God extended the promise to Isaac's youngest son Jacob in a dream. Though he faced many difficulties, God blessed him, gave him twelve sons, and changed his name to Israel. The remainder of the Old Testament records the repeated prophecies, promises, and problems that surrounded the nation of Israel for hundreds of years.

A Promise for Us

Centuries later, we are reminded of God's promise throughout the New Testament. The apostle Paul spoke at length of the promise and explained its meaning many times in his writings.

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
Romans 4:16

We see now that we don't have to be Jewish by birth to receive the blessing of God's promises. We need only to put our trust in the One True God to become part of His promises.

A New Promise

Before He ascended back into heaven, Jesus gave a new promise to His disicples.

And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49

We find Jesus further elaborating on this promise when He describes the coming gift, the power that would come with the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you...”
Acts 1:4-5, 8

A Final Promise

Not only can we receive the gift of the promised Holy Spirit and the benefits He provides, but we have a new future to look forward to.

But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:13

And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.
1 John 2:25

These promises are not impossible, they are absolute because the One who made the promises cannot lie.

in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
Titus 1:2

Our hope rests in the One who always keeps His promises!

_{Scriptures are taken from the Berean Standard Bible}