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DAY 6 or January 6. Good things come to those who wait.

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Our thought today is rooted in Genesis chapter 17, verses 1 and 2. When Abraham was ninety-nine

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years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I am God Almighty, walk before me faithfully

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and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you, and will greatly increase

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your numbers.

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First the big picture surrounding these verses. In the days of Abraham, having an heir is

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a vital mark of manhood. God has promised him many descendants. He has promised Abraham

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that he will be a nation. But how will that work out if he still has no children? After

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waiting ten years, Abraham and Sere decide to do what the local Canaanites do, have a

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child by a servant girl and adopt it as their own. They do this, and a son is born to Hagar.

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His name is Ishmael. Abraham and Sarai still yearn for a son of their own, but as the years

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pass by they are sure they are far too old now. God changes Abram's name to Abraham,

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meaning father of a multitude, and Sarai to Sarah, meaning princess. As a sign of the covenant

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between God and Abraham, circumcision is introduced and God repeats his promise of an heir for

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Abraham. All Abraham can do is laugh. Still no son, and time is running out.

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And now our action step for today. Patience is a virtue, and we see it in abundance in

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the lives of Sere and Abraham. It's too easy to say that they did the wrong thing by using

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Hagar as a surrogate mother. However, this elderly couple deserves some praise for waiting

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ten years. Then they waited a further thirteen years before receiving another promise from

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God, and still they waited. Would you have waited so long? There is a word of warning

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here for all of us. Don't turn your back on God because he hasn't confirmed your timetable.

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Part of being a follower of Christ is accepting that his timings are the best. Whatever you

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are waiting for from God will be worth it. Just ask Abraham and Sarah.