Gen 17:21

"But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year." Gen 17:21

Sometimes it's very hard to put a promise on the shelf and wait until God does His work. As we have seen, Abraham had that problem. He tried to promote a trusted slave. He and Sarah contrived to produce Ishmael. Now there was nothing wrong with Ishmael - except that He was not God's way to fulfill God's promise. It would seem that Ishmael would have fallen by the wayside and never been heard from again.

WRONG! To this day the descendants of Ishmael are thorns in the side of Israel, God's chosen people. God is not one to back down from a promise, so he extended a secondary promise to Abraham that would be fulfilled through his first born son. He, too, would become a father of nations - just not the chosen nation. Those nations have worked for centuries trying to claim the land God gave Abraham. Their claim is that they are the rightful heirs - being the first-born. If you have understanding this conflict, check the international news stories detailing the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian and Muslim worlds.

Sometimes when we get in the way of God, we make problems that can never completely be undone. Abraham always had his Ishmael. We will always suffer the consequences of our own sins. Some we can escape. They can be reversed. Forgiveness can be petitioned. Restitution can be made. Others are much more complicated. Trusted friendships once broken are often irreconcilable. Confidences once made and broken can never become a confidence again.

When you receive a promise from God, wait on Him to fulfill it. He will. If you take the fulfillment upon yourself, you will only make things worse - if not impossible. If you have already muddied the waters with your own efforts, STOP! Step back and confess to the Father that you have sinned. Ask Him to forgive you. Be willing to accept the consequences - and let God do His work. He is faithful to fulfill all His promises and covenants. Amen and Amen.