Today’s author is Prince of Peace member, Steve Sveom.
“Story Matters” is the theme for our weeks in the narrative lectionary this year. Elements of a good story include characters, conflict, uncertainty, hope, and possibility. The Chinese symbol for crisis is a combination of the characters for danger and opportunity. Indeed, that may be the essence of a story. There is danger and opportunity.
In the story of Abraham and Sarah, the danger was that God’s promise would not be fulfilled. The promise of descendants, land and blessing was in danger. The characters (Abraham and Sarah) were old and stumbled between trust and despair. They impatiently tried to manipulate things to fulfill the promise and discovered dissatisfaction and doubt. In the reading from Genesis 15:1-6 God repeated the promise and assured them that in spite of their age and inadequacies the promise remained. And in 15:1 we read for the first time in Abraham and Sarah’s story God’s word of comfort “Do not be afraid.”
The story reveals danger but also opportunity. There is danger of fear, despair and hopelessness but in God’s promise there is comfort, faith and possibility. The story matters because it reminds us of a God who will not be manipulated and who though seemingly absent or delayed will be faithful and who is anxious to bless this world.
Our own story may bring uncertainty. We may wonder about God’s presence and God’s promises. The story of Abraham and Sarah matters because it brings us face to face with our own story of doubt and faith, fear and comfort, impatience and hope, danger and opportunity.
Look for God in your story today and hear, with Abraham and Sarah, God’s word: “Do not be afraid…”
Gracious God, you desire that this world would be blessed. Give us faith in your promise so that we may see your presence in our story. Amen.