DAY 105 - BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE PROMISE

Sarah died... Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her… Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age.

Genesis 23:2; Genesis 25:8

Reading: Genesis 23:1-20, Genesis 25:1-10; Hebrews 11:8-12.

After the death of his wife Sarah, Abraham took another wife and had more children. When he died at the age of 175 he was buried alongside his wife Sarah in the gravesite on the land that he had purchased many years before.

Abraham’s death brought about a major turning point in the story of the Promise. It is easy to think that their lives were a failure because they only owned a small graveyard, a tiny portion of the land that God had promised them. However we are supposed to learn that the Promise was generational and was passed over onto the lives of Isaac and Rebekah. We are also supposed to be inspired by the fact that Abraham and Sarah so believed in the resurrection of the dead that they were looking forward to living in the eternal land called Heaven. As true saints they did not get discouraged by the fact that they did not get the whole land on the Earth, rather, they were thankful right to the end of their lives for the eternal city that they knew they would inherit.

It is vital for you to accept that some of the promises made to you will be received and enjoyed by your children and grandchildren. Do not be discouraged by this but make sure that you make every effort to invest the Gospel into your children’s lives so that they will continue to hold on in faith to God’s Promise and give glory to God for the legacy of faith that you passed on to them.

Above all, don’t lose sight of the Promise of eternal life with the Lord in Heaven. It is vitally important to remind the next generation that we are looking for an eternal home where we will enjoy each other’s company in the presence of God forever.

Prayer

Lord I pray for all the immediate and extended members of my family, that You will raise up people in their lives to tell them the good news of eternal life through faith in Jesus.

FOR THE FAMILY

Engage

Briefly explain the study in an age-appropriate way then spend some time discussing some of the promises that God has given to you or the family. Encourage your children to know how important it is to keep faith with God once you are gone.