Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. —Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

God always does the right thing

1. Even if it takes a long time.

The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. —2 Peter 3:9 (GWT)

2. Even when it seems crazy.

Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!” Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” —Genesis 18:10-14 (NLT)

3. Even if it doesn’t seem right.

Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” —Genesis 18:23-25 (NLT)

4. Even when we don’t understand.

It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. —Hebrews 11:17-19 (NLT)

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. —John 12:24 (NLT)

Discussion Questions

1. One of the most important lessons Abraham had to learn was that even if it takes a long time, God always does the right thing. Are you in a similar situation, where you are waiting on the Lord to complete a promise? What do you do to continue to have patience and peace throughout the waiting process?

2. Read Romans 4:19. Sometimes the road to receiving a promise or gift from God can seem just as crazy as the promise/gift itself. In your life what has felt crazy in the beginning, but in the end made sense? What key lessons did you learn throughout that journey?

3. Read Hebrews 11:17-19. Abraham had extraordinary faith that allowed him to believe that if he sacrificed Isaac, the Lord would raise him from the dead. This belief released Abraham from fear, doubt, worry, etc. What is something in your life that you need to release to the Lord, trusting that if God takes it away, even something more miraculous could happen? How do we as Christians gain and live out that type of faith?

4. Read Psalm 9:10. Our goal as Christians should not be to understand all of the Lord’s plans, but to know the One that makes the plans. Throughout this series, what have you discovered about yourself? What are the big lessons you have learned?