It starts with the promise God made to Abraham and Sarah: “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore, from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” (Hebrews 11:11–12)
And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. (Genesis 12:2)
Unfortunately, because Sarah had always been barren and both were old, Sarah became impatient and decided to take things into her own hands.
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. (Genesis 16:1–4)
This was a costly disobedience. The child from that decisions was Ishmael who became the progenitor of the Arab people. Most of us know the history of the constant adversity between these two nations. However, Abraham still believed God and Isaac was born plus descendants too numerous to count. His faith not only changed the world, but God said that everyone with that same faith is considered a descendant of Abraham and inheritors of the promises God made to him.
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith . . . . That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. (Romans 4:13–17)
Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (Galatians 3:6–9)
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:29)
This is God’s pattern — to bless the offspring of those who put their faith in Him. The OT is filled with promises to faithful believers concerning their children and future generations. History also illustrates this reality. John MacArthur writes that he is the fifth generation of preachers in his family and how their faith was a huge influence in his life. As I read that, I thought that we are responsible for instructing our children and have a great foundation for doing so because God promises to teach and bless them.
Yes, the faith I exercise today will influence others. Despite my weaknesses and failures, I can trust Him “who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20) for His glory.
PRAY: Jesus, I thank You for being the main reason that God’s power is effective and that I can rely on You to hear and answer prayer for my family and for many families. You are using Your children to bless their children and future generations. I rest in the faith of Abraham and believe Your promises with great thankfulness and joy.
PONDER: Begin to mark in my Bible all that God promises for the families of those who believe!
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