Abraham
Day 10 Advent Devotional
God is in the business of miraculous births. Abraham was 75 years old when God first called him and promised to make him into a great nation (Genesis 12:1-4). At that time, he and his wife Sarah were still without children. God reaffirmed this promise multiple times, including when Abraham was 99 years old (Genesis 17:1-4). Despite God's promise, they remained childless for many years. When Abraham was 100 years old, Sarah gave birth to their son Isaac (Genesis 21:5), a miraculous event since both were well beyond childbearing age. Biologically, there was no reason Sarah and Abraham should have been able to conceive.
Yet God not only promised that they would have a child but also that through their offspring, the nations would be blessed. He assured them that their descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5). This promise ultimately pointed to Jesus Christ, through whom all nations are blessed (Galatians 3:16).
The birth of Jesus, while not to elderly parents, was even more miraculous. Jesus was born to a virgin, Mary, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14. His birth mirrors the miraculous births in the Old Testament, such as Isaac, highlighting God’s power and faithfulness. In Abraham’s life, Jesus was both prophesied and typified, foreshadowing the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises through Christ.