Fourth Symbol of the Jesse Tree: Abraham & Sarah

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Fourth Symbol of the Jesse Tree: Abraham & Sarah
(After God’s covenant with Noah and creation—even though the world is still sinful--God offers hope and blessing to the world through a particular family)

Genesis 12:1–7, 15:1-6 and 18:10-14

Hebrews 11:8

In Genesis 12, God calls Abraham to leave everything he knows so that he might go forth as a blessing to the world. And Abraham—stepping out in faith—becomes a homeless immigrant.

But in Genesis 15, Abraham and Sarah are old, childless, and frustrated. Again, God promises that their future family will be more numerous than the stars (thus, our symbol for today is a field of stars). …but three chapters and years later, there is still no child.
Yet the promise remains.


Just in case we doubt God’s incredible ability to bring life in surprising places, this is where the lineage of the incarnate Christ begins: an old man aged to impotence and his elderly barren wife. The history of our salvation (the family tree) takes root where only the Creator could speak life into it.  It is impossible, even laughable, as we see in both Abraham’s and Sarah’s reaction to the thought. But God makes it happen.

God makes an impossible birth happen again, many generations later in that same family. First, with an elderly and childless couple named Zechariah and Elizabeth. Then (surprise!) with a young virgin named Mary. The salvation history occurs through otherwise impossible scenarios, made possible through the Ancient of Days and the Bright Morning Star: Jesus Christ, our Lord.

This advent, I am praying for God to bring surprising newness into my heart too. I am praying for a deeply rooted and newly discovered wonder in God’s Scripture and in the power of the Spirit. I am praying this for myself, my church, my family and friends, and our community. So let us wait, and pray, and see what God will do.  
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Kids Corner

Discussion:  God asked Abraham to travel to another land. I wonder how Abraham and Sarah felt about going to another home. I wonder how you might feel if you were told by God to go to another land.



Activity: Take a trip to the library or bookstore and check out these great books.

PRAY: God of wonder, we pray for those who are told by you to go to another land for safety or for a new life.  Give them all they will need to make the journey. Amen.



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