Tag: Genesis 17:15-19
Healing a Barren Womb
Scripture reading for July 20: Genesis 17:15-18 “And God said to Abram, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.””
As we continue to explore what Scripture says about healing, we go back to Genesis where we read the story of Abram and Sarai. At seventy five years of age, God called them to leave their home and go to a land that He would show them. God promised to bless them and to make them a great nation and through them to bless the nations of the earth. (Genesis 12:1-3) They began their journey of faith, trusting God’s Word. But nearly twenty five years later they found themselves still with no children of their own, only Ismael, the son of Abram through Sarai’s slave Hagar.
God appears to Abram again at this point and renews His promise. God gave Abram a new name–Abraham, meaning “father of a multitude” and to Sarai, a new name, Sarah–meaning princess. These names were exchanged as a part of a new or renewed covenant. God was showing them that He would do what they had not been able to do naturally–have a child. Abraham and Sarah had both laughed at the possibility of having a child in their advanced ages, so God gave the child that was to come the name “Isaac” which literally means laughter! Faith rests not on our age or ability, but on God and His faithfulness to fulfil His promises. God healed Sarah’s womb and restored Abraham’s sexual vigor and Isaac was born as He had promised! Everyone laughed with joy, including God!
Prayer: Father God, as I study Your Word to find faith for healing, thank You for stories like that of Abraham and Sarah. I am reminded of Your faithfulness to Your Word. I am reminded that faith rests in You and waits on You. Nothing is too hard for You or to old and dead. Bring me the laughter of faith. Amen.