Land of Ur, 2091 BC
After the big flood ended, the world was fresh and new. The time of bad people was over; their wickedness had been washed away, creating a clean earth. In this peaceful new world, God spoke directly to His followers. He called out to Abram one day, starting a divine plan to change our history.
Abram was living in Ur when God spoke to him and gave him a command and a promise. The command was to leave his country, his people, and his father’s household and go to a land God would show him.
He was with his wife, named Sarai.
When they were in Egypt, Abram started to freak out. He knew he’d get into trouble because of Sarai’s beauty. So, he asked her to say they were just siblings. Pharaoh ended up taking Sarai to his palace, and he showered Abram with so many gifts because of Sarai. That’s when things got real—God wasn’t having any of this nonsense and sent plagues to Pharaoh. He ended up confronting Abram about the lie and sent them packing.
Abram and Sarai have been together for a while now but they’re not having kids yet. So, Sarai decided to take charge and offered her maid, Hagar, to be a surrogate so they could have an heir—pretty standard practice back then. But things are getting messy because Hagar is starting to resent Sarai. Peace then left the building. You know how it is having two women in the household. So Abram told Sarai she could do whatever she wanted with Hagar. Hagar got treated poorly, so she decided to run away.
Things get messier when we try to handle everything independently without turning to God for guidance or if we get impatient waiting for His blessings. We end up stacking more problems on top of our already heavy situation.
God saw everything going on, so He sent an angel to Hagar. Hagar was sent back to the household and gave birth to Ishmael.
At that time, God showed up to Abram and told him he’d be the father of many nations.
I feel like that’s how God works. He calls you out of nowhere and gives you a task to see if you’ll jump in. Once you take that step, He promises you something great. It’s like He wants to check if you’ll listen first. Obedience should be our love language to connect with God. He appreciates it.
God made a covenant with Abram and changed his name to Abraham, meaning Father of Many Nations. He also changed Sarai’s name to Sarah. He told Abraham that he would not only have a son, but his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. This was a seemingly impossible promise, considering Abraham and Sarah’s age.
Despite their situation, Abraham chose to believe in God’s promise. This act of faith is a significant moment in the story, indicatin Abraham’s trust in God’s word. Later, God fulfilled His promise, and Sarah gave birth to a son, Isaac, in her old age.
While in Gerar, Abraham lied again about Sarah being his sister. King Abimelech took Sarah to be his concubine but God talked to him in a dream to return Sarah back to Abraham and called him out for his deception.
What have I learned from Abraham and Sarah’s story so far?
Patience is a virtue. Abraham and Sarah waited a long time for their promised child. But they held on, teaching us that patience isn’t just about waiting; it’s about keeping a good attitude while waiting…
With God, expect the unexpected. They laughed when God told Abraham and Sarah they’d have a child in their old age. But hey, it happened! So next time you think something’s impossible, remember Sarah and her miracle baby.
They have faith in difficult times. Despite numerous challenges, Abraham and Sarah never lost their faith. They trusted in God’s plan, even when things seemed impossible. This teaches us the importance of maintaining faith during difficult times.
Abraham and Sarah showed mutual support and respect for each other. They stood by each other through various trials.
They have laughter and joy. Despite their trials, Abraham and Sarah found reasons to laugh and experience joy, especially with the birth of Isaac. This teaches us the importance of maintaining a sense of humor and joy, even in challenging times.
Moving house can be a divine experience. When God told Abraham to pack up and move to a new land, he didn’t question it. He just went. So next time you dread a move, think of it as a divine adventure. Who knows, maybe your promised land is just a moving truck away!
Family drama is universal. If you think your family has issues, remember Abraham’s family. Abraham’s family was like a soap opera before soap operas were a thing, with a wife, a concubine, and two sons who didn’t exactly get along. So next time your family drives you crazy, think of how Abraham and Sarah faced the challenges in their family.
Abraham and Sarah lived a very fruitful life together. Despite the trials they faced, their love for each other and their faith in God remained strong throughout their lives.
When Sarah died, Abraham mourned and wept for her. Abraham then buried her in the Cave of Machpelah, near Mamre, which is present-day Hebron. This became the family burial site, as Abraham and several of his descendants were also buried there.
New York City, 2025
After years in the fast-paced IT industry, Abe finally closed the door on his corporate life for good. Standing in his empty office, he experienced a blend of relief and nostalgia, surrounded by the familiar sounds of servers buzzing, keyboards clicking, and phones ringing—all now part of his past.
Stepping out of the building, a sense of freedom washed over him as he prepared to embrace a new path centered on service and faith. He called his wife, Sarah, to share the news of his departure from the corporate world, feeling a rush of excitement as he envisioned their future together.
“That’s wonderful, Abe. How do you feel?” she asked, her voice filled with warmth.
“Like I’m ready for our next adventure,” he replied, gazing one last time at the city that had been his home for so long.
The couple was about to embark on a transformative journey to the Philippines, driven by a shared calling to start a ministry that would utilize their skills and resources to support those in need. Though it was a significant leap of faith, they were eager to answer the call and explore what awaited them in this new chapter of their lives.
Abraham and Sarah. Abe and Sarah. Along with many other men and women who answered God’s call, this story is for you. You changed history for His glory.
Only God can transform us from doubt to faith. Even when we don’t see anything. All we must do is obey, and the rest is in God’s hands.
