Abram Planned to adopt a Son

 

Did you know that Abram planned to adopt a son? Yes he did, his name was Eliezer, he was Abram’s servant from Damascus.

Long story short…

War had broken out between enemy nations, as the fighting escalated, the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah joined the battle. They were defeated and the enemy absconded with all their possessions, abducted Abram’s nephew Lot, who lived in Sodom, and held him captive.

When Abram heard of this and that Lot and his possessions had been taken, he amassed 318 of his trained fighting-machine-men and went after these out-of-place disrespectful captors.

Abram and his men repossessed all that was taken, and freed the people, including Lot.

All of this you can read about in Genesis chapter 14.

Upon their return, Melchizedek, the High Priest, gave them food to eat and pronounced a blessing on Abram, while the king of Sodom, offered the plunder to Abram as a “thank you” but he refused saying,

“I make a promise to the Lord, the God Most High, who made heaven and earth. I promise that I will not keep anything that is yours. I will not keep even a thread or a sandal strap so that you cannot say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ I will keep nothing but the food my young men have eaten…” – Genesis 14:22-24 (NCV).

In chapter 15 verse 1 we read that God Himself promises to greatly reward Abram.

After these things happened, the Lord spoke his word to Abram in a vision: “Abram, don’t be afraid. I will defend you, and I will give you a great reward.”

And it is in Abram’s response to God that we learn of his plan to adopt.

You see, Abram was now several years older than when God first promised to make him “a great nation” (Genesis 12:2). I am sure you can understand his “frustration”.

Imagine, you’re 20 years old when you receive a Word from God, you are now 55 years old, and you haven’t seen any sign whatsoever of this promise coming to pass. You, like Abram, will be wondering if what God has said will ever happen. You will start to make your own plans.

That’s what Abram did. After God spoke of giving him “a great reward” Abram must have been like, “Well I’ve been waiting all this time for this promised son but the possibility of Sarai conceiving at her age, looking a little bleakish. So, my slave Eliezer from Damascus will get everything I own after I die.” After a slight pause, Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no son, so a slave born in my house will inherit everything I have.”

It is at this point that Abram’s planned adoption was revealed. Abram planned to adopt a son in the form of his most trusted household servant, Eliezer.

However, “The plans of the heart belong to a person, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.” (Proverbs 16:1 NASB), in other words, you may make your plan, but the Lord has the final say or the last word.

And we see just how true that is in Genesis 15:4-5 (NCV) with God’s reply to Abram,

“He will not be the one to inherit what you have. You will have a son of your own who will inherit what you have. Look at the sky. There are so many stars you cannot count them. Your descendants also will be too many to count.”

How does one respond to that? How did Abram respond to that? That was a good and proper “Shut your mouth!”

God assured Abram that above all else, He was his great reward, even if there was no promise.

Abram needn’t be afraid or anxious or concerned, for God was on his side so he would receive the promised son.

Before this exchange, even though God had spoken to him, because time was going without any manifestation or fulfilment of the promise, Abram could not perceive the possible, he was only seeing the impossible. Sarai, on the flip side of menopause, was way past child-bearing age and Abram was ten years older than her, so he was not holding out hope.

But God!

Beloved, the Lord says this,

“So also will be the word that I speak— it will not fail to do what I plan for it; it will do everything I send it to do.” – Isaiah 55:11 (GNT)

What has the Lord promised you? For what Word are you awaiting fulfilment?

“But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!”

The Lord’s words to Habakkuk (2:3 TLB) still apply today. You must hold on, be patient and trust that what God says He will do He will surely do.

Abram’s response, in Genesis 15:6, was to believe to be true what the Lord said to him. “And the Lord accepted Abram’s faith, and that faith made him right with God.”

This must also be your response – believe God. Only believe!

Other than God’s word, Abram received no tangible evidence of the son that was promised. Like Abram, stand on the word of the Lord, exercise your faith, for God keeps His promises (see Psalm 145:13) and remember always “These two things cannot change: God cannot lie when he makes a promise, and he cannot lie when he makes an oath.” (Hebrews 6:18 NCV).

Sometimes God’s word does not compute but if you have chosen to travel along the spiritual path, then you must understand that more often than not it requires walking by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Along this path, you’ll need to not rely on your fluctuating emotions. It’s tough but it’s doable.

Beloved, God is not limited as we are. We think that it is impossible for a 90-year-old woman and a 100-year-old man to have a child, but God! He transcends the impossible.

Nowadays, with the world seemingly topsy turvy, it’s even more critical for us to trust God with what appears to be impossibilities. Don’t go adopting your own plan. If you are frustrated, anxious, confused and doubtful, go to God. Ask Him to open your eyes to the impossible and activate your belief.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Abram Planned to adopt a Son” © August 30, 2025