“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Cor 1:20). 

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad (Jn 8:56). God gave Abraham three promises and he lived by them for a hundred years till he died. The only difference for us is that He did not appear to us directly, but this only goes on to show the more we should live by faith. 

1^st promise: “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee” (Gen 12:1). Abraham heeded God’s call and followed Him to the Promised Land. To do so, he has to pull up his deep roots from his fertile land with the firm belief that this is the only way to a better land. But He is not afraid. “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward” (Gen 15:1). God knows our worries and He is our shield. “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:8-10). Abraham died in faith and he received the true country. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country” (Heb 11:13-14). The fact that although he was able to live in better condition and yet had chosen to live in tents, should inspire us: we are only pilgrims in this world.

2^nd promise: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing” (Gen 12:2). Abraham and Sarah were married for 50 years but yet have no children. In spite of that, God promised to give them a great nation. Our Lord is a God that can accomplish even impossible things: “And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be” (Gen 15:5). And Abraham simply believed. “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Gen 15:6) and God did eventually keep His promise with the birth of Isaac (Gen 21). However, sadly Sarah did not trust God and she enlisted Hagar’s help, giving birth to Ishmael (Gen 16) and the beginning of troubles.

3^rd promise: “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen 12:3). And it did come true. “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Gal 3:7-9). If we dwell in the promises of God, we can never go wrong. Whatever He said, He will deliver; whatever He promised, He will fulfil. Amen.

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