Welcome to The Turnaround!
Week One Focus: God’s Vision and Desire is Generational
Introduction
Welcome to Day 4, God’s blessing flows from Isaac to the lineage to Christ! Genesis 17 reveals God as “the Almighty God” for the first time in Scripture. The Hebrew name “El-Shaddai” carries the idea of “Nourisher, Strengthener, Satisfier.” For every name He bears, is a blessing He shares. There is a tenderness in His name because “Shaddai” refers to a baby receiving strength and nourishment from its mother in the earliest stages of life. Just as a baby feeds off the mother’s immune system and fights away any harmful illnesses, the children of God receive all they need from the hand of the “Almighty God” and find nourishment and strength for life’s journey.
In a bit of humor, our text today portrays Abraham, who pushed the age of one hundred, and God promised his wife Sarah, who was ninety, they would have a son. Abraham found this hard to believe and laughed at God, but God always gets the last laugh. God repeated the promise of a son and shared that they were to name the child Isaac, meaning “laughter.” Every time Abraham and Sarah would call Isaac’s name, they were reminded of God’s gracious promise fulfilled as well as the humor of our God. Isaac alone would receive the covenant blessing and be the heir of all things, including the lineage of our Lord Jesus Christ (25:5–6; Rom. 9:6–13)
Insight
Isaac’s role in the covenant directly connects to the lineage of Christ, demonstrating how God’s promises align with His ultimate redemptive plan. God always keeps His Word and works out His plans “according to the counsel of His own will.” (Eph. 1:11).
Turnaround Question
Is there an area of your life where you doubt the promises of God?
Gently lay your most profound doubts before Him, and, with an open Bible, discover the faithfulness of our God. Remember, we live by the promises of God, not explanations. Declare and renew your trust in Him today.
Prayer
Father, in the name of Jesus and by your Holy Spirit, I praise you for always keeping Your promises. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. You have promised you will never leave me more forsake me. You love me. You call me. You invite me into your arms. You can forgive anyone and change any situation. You laugh at the impossible. For with you, there is nothing impossible. I give you my heart today, knowing it’s in the safest hands it could ever be in. I know you have a plan and purpose for my life, for You have created me on purpose for a purpose. I love you, Father, and I thank you for Jesus. For it is in the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
