Fourth Symbol of the Jesse Tree: Stars—God’s promise to Abraham & Sarah
In Genesis 15, God promises Abraham and Sarah that their future family will be blessed and more numerous than the stars (thus, our symbol for today is a field of stars).
…but years later, there is still no child. Abraham and Sarah are old, childless, and frustrated. Yet the promise remains.
…but years later, there is still no child. Abraham and Sarah are old, childless, and frustrated. Yet the promise remains.
Just in case we doubt God’s incredible ability to bring life in surprising places, this is where the lineage of the incarnate Christ begins: an old man aged to impotence and his elderly barren wife. The history of our salvation (the family tree) takes root where only the Creator could speak life into it. It is impossible, even laughable, but God makes it happen.
God makes an impossible birth happen again, many generations later in that same family. First, with an elderly and childless couple named Zechariah and Elizabeth (their son turns out to be John the Baptist). And then a young virgin named Mary gives birth to a child named Jesus. The salvation history occurs through otherwise impossible scenarios, made possible by God.
So why are we still surprised when God answers prayers today?
God of abundant life and surprising newness,
breathe life into my heart too. Give me a deeply rooted and newly discovered wonder in Scripture and in the power of the Spirit. We are waiting to see what You will do. Amen.
breathe life into my heart too. Give me a deeply rooted and newly discovered wonder in Scripture and in the power of the Spirit. We are waiting to see what You will do. Amen.
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