This past weekend my family and I went on a mini-vacation to the beach in Galveston, TX. It was my wife’s birthday on Sunday and we enjoyed the time away as a family. The rest of the devotions this week will simply give some devotional thoughts on some beach observations.
Genesis 22:15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
I can’t imagine trying to count the sand particles on the seashore…just in a square foot…or even on the bottom of my Croc’s when I got back to our condo. They are small and many…and really impossible to count.
When the LORD came to Abraham with a promise of descendents as numerous as the “sand on the seashore” was he talking about a one-to-one correlation between a grain of sand and one person who could trace his lineage back to Abraham? Or was he getting Abraham to realize as was said by the Apostle Paul,
Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
When the LORD is at work for the benefit of his people, his Church, he is able and more than willing to do more than one could ask or imagine.
From a human standpoint, there was little chance that Abraham would have any descendants, let alone so many that one could not count or would lose count of them. Yet, the power of God would be at work in the life of Abraham to bring a son named Isaac, and from him many more descendants that would be hard to count at this point.
Why? To bring glory to his name throughout all generations and to see that the people of God would always have their roots in the power of God. To this day, the promise to Abraham is still seen as a miracle and a testimony to the power of God. The ultimate descendent of Abraham was Jesus Christ who would also carry out the miraculous by bringing life out of what was dead and bring about spiritual descendants of Abraham that also are too many to count. The reality of Jesus is still bringing change in people’s hearts and giving glory to the power of God at work in and among us. God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.
The Gulf and its power and immensity of its shore is impressive enough. However, when you pause long enough to consider how many grains of sand there is on the shore, it is truly impressive reminder that God’s power and ability to build not just his world, but his Church is a testimony to his grace. Each one of us, by faith, is one of those grains of sand. Individually, a grain of sand is pretty insignificant, but combined with a multitude of others creates the shoreline of the coast.
Perhaps its the same for us. Individually maybe we feel insignificant like a grain of sand, but remember God takes the insignificant and that which seems so small to make something so significant. So next time you find yourself on the beach, take a look at the grains of sand and remember the promises and power of a glorious God who takes you and reminds you that you too are a recipient of his promise of grace!
Apply: What things around you remind you of the promises of God and his faithfulness to follow through on those promises?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace that includes me in your promises! AMEN.