8 March 2026

It took thirteen years for God to fulfil his promise of a son for Abraham. In the meantime, we see how faint-hearted, suspicious, jealous and cruel Abraham, Sarah and Hagar become. Forcing God’s hand has disastrous consequences. They lose their peace of mind.

God’s purpose was fulfilled despite Abraham’s intervention. It makes you think about the life of faith and the things which God promises to fulfil in us. Sometimes we wait a long time for things to work out – and for some things we are still waiting.  What does God require of us?

Isn’t it a steadfast spirit – a willingness not to be put off by a lack of success, immediate results, the fulfilment of his purpose, a willingness not to be so faint-hearted as to force God’s hand or even run away from our appointed time and place.

Wherever Abraham went, he built an altar and worshipped God. This is the endurance of the kirk in the twenty-first century. Every Sunday, in every charge  throughout the length and breadth of Scotland, there are opportunities to worship God.

And we are still here like Abraham, obedient to the call, enduring in our faith whilst the signs of the times continually challenge and sometimes threaten us. What sustains our faith? What makes the kirk endure? Is it not the promises of God?

‘Peace I leave with you. I am the resurrection and the life. Lo, I am with you always.’ says Jesus.  And like grains of sand and stars in the sky, the promise is confirmed once more when the Word is read and the people listen!

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