Next we traveled into Abraham’s days. He just had been told by G-d² that He was going to make him a great nation³, that G-d was going to give the land Abraham was traveling through to his descendants⁴, and that he would have a son by Sarai and be a father of many nations. The Scriptures often compact time just as a tele-lens compacts space and distance – it cannot be determined. 

It probably is fair to say that most people reading the account about Abraham assume that he believed G-d immediately for an heir by Sarai, because in Gen. 15:6 we are told that he believed IN the L-RD regarding the promise of descendants. However, it never occurred to him that G-d meant it via his barren wife, Sarai. G-d had only said that He would raise up one from Abraham’s own body, who would be his heir⁵.

Abraham shared with Sarai what G-d had promised. Hence, Sarai’s suggestion of having intercourse with her Egyptian maid Hagar made perfect sense to both⁶, for G-d had not as yet mentioned anything about giving him a son by Sarai; no, the Almighty only spoke of “descendants.” 

Furthermore, in Abraham’s days it was customary to have another woman - a maid servant or a concubine - bear upon the womb of a barren wife to give her and her husband an heir who would continue the family line.

Hence, it was not lack of faith which moved Sarai and Abram to choose this natural way of obtaining an heir, through whom G-d’s promise of descendants would be fulfilled, and making of Abram a great nation. They had waited ten years  - Abraham being already eighty-five years old, nearing eighty-six⁷ - before taking this common-sense step of faith, not realizing that the heir G-d promised to Abraham from his own body would be brought forth supernaturally and not according to human strength. 

G-d did not need their “help” to bring to pass what He had said.

G-d let thirteen more years pass, when Abraham (his name was still Abram) had reached an age – ninety-nine years - that was past fathering a child. Then He appeared to him again and in a gentle sort of way reproved him, for He said to him: “I am G-d Almighty; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect – blameless, whole-hearted, complete. [Then] I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”⁸ 

Why, had he not walked blamelessly before the Lord, every day with all his heart? G-d seemed to think otherwise. Abram recognized the reproof immediately and fell on his face, making obeisance in the reverential fear of G-d⁹. Then G-d spoke words concerning a promise and a covenant, which have resounded throughout all generations into our days, a promise and a covenant so great all nations, peoples, tribes and tongues would be effected by it¹⁰. 

Finally, following G-d’s “pre-amble” of covenants, of making of Abram the father of many nations, He said to Abram, “As for Sarai your wife,…I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her… she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”¹¹

This promise was so astonishing, Abraham had to laugh, albeit falling on his face because he feared G-d¹². This was simply too incredible, even for him. Here he was, nearly a hundred years old and Sarai ninety, way past the years of conception, in addition to her barreness. And now he and Sarah (for G-d had renamed her as well) should suddenly have a son brought forth from their own bodies? Who wouldn’t laugh at that? The mere thought was preposterous.