The Virgin Birth

HOW the Lord brought about this miraculous birth of Isaac is fully revealed in Genesis 18. The aged Abraham received a call from the Lord as he rested in his tent at the middle of the day. After Abraham had welcomed his heavenly visitors, the Lord reveals to him how He is going to keep His promise of a son. The Lord says (Genesis 18:9-10):

“ ‘Where is Sarah your wife?’ So he said, ‘Here, in the tent.’ And He said, ‘I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.’ “ (NKJV)

In these words we have God’s own answer to the question of how He would perform this promise. He will set back the clock of time. He will make Sarah young again, and restore youth to this old, decrepit woman. That is the meaning of the statement:

“I will certainly return to you according to the time of life.”

That is to say: “I will restore to Sarah the time of childbearing. I will renew her youth, turn the clock back fifty or sixty years, and she will become a beautiful, virile, healthy, young woman again. I will restore her fertility, and the possibility of motherhood.” He would do the same for Abraham and change this old, impotent man to virile, young manhood. That is God’s word of explanation.

Adapted and modified excerpts from Studies in the Life of Abraham by M. R. De Haan (1891-1964)
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV © 2016 by Crossway Bibles.
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