St. Louise de Marillac: Animator of the Confraternities of Charity
From promise to reality
1. Genesis 25:5-8
Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. But
to the sons of his concubines
Abraham gave gifts, and while he was
still living he sent them away from
Isaac his son, eastward to the east
country. These are the days of the
years of Abraham’s life, 175 years.
Abraham breathed his last and died in
a good old age, an old man full of
years, and was gathered to his people.
2. Genesis 25:9-11
Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him
in the cave of Machpelah, in the field
of Ephron the son of Zohar the
Hittite, east of Mamre, the field that
Abraham purchased from the Hittites.
There Abraham was buried, with
Sarah his wife. After the death of
Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son.
And Isaac settled at Beer Lahai Roi.
3. Genesis 25:19-21
These are the generations of Isaac,
Abraham’s son. Abraham fathered Isaac,
and Isaac was forty years old when he
took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel
the Aramean of Paddan Aram, the sister
of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife.
Now Isaac prayed to the LORD for his
wife, because she was barren. And the
LORD granted his prayer, and
Rebekah his wife conceived.
4. From Promise To Reality
1. Our Heritage
a. God’s promise to Abraham.
• Gen 12:1-2 ‘..I will make you a great nation; I
will bless you...; and you shall be a blessing.’
• The promise is meant for us too.
• Romans 4:16-18 That is why it depends on
faith, in order that the promise may rest on
grace and be guaranteed to all his
offspring, not only to the adherent of the
law but also to the one who shares the
faith of Abraham… the father of us all…
5. From Promise To Reality
1. Our Heritage
b. Already justified.
• Romans 4:20-22 No unbelief made him
waver concerning the promise of God, but
……….fully convinced that God was able to
do what He had promised. That is why his
faith was counted to him as
righteousness.
• Romans 4:23-25 But the words “it was
counted to him” were not written for his
sake alone. It will be counted to us who
believe in Him who raised from the dead
Jesus our Lord….raised for our justification.
• So are we.
6. From Promise To Reality
2. Not By Default.
a. Passing our own test.
• Gen 25:11 & 21 After the death of Abraham,
that God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac
settled at Beer Lahai Roi. Now Isaac prayed to
the LORD for his wife, because she was
barren.
• James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when
you meet trials of various kinds, for you know
that the testing of your faith produces
steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its
full effect, that you may be complete,
lacking in nothing.
7. From Promise To Reality
2. Not By Default.
b. Obtaining our own justification.
• Genesis 25: 20-21 Isaac was 40 years
old when he took Rebekah as
wife…Now Isaac prayed to the LORD
for his wife, because she was barren.
• Romans 10:10 For with the heart one
believes and is justified, and with
the mouth confesses and is saved.
8. From Promise To Reality
3. Be Accounted For.
a. Through faith.
• Genesis 15:2-6 “Look now toward heaven, and
count the stars if you are able to number
them.” And He said to him, “So shall your
descendant be.” And he believed in the
LORD, and He accounted it to him for
righteousness.
• James 1:6-7 But let him ask in faith, with no
doubting, for the one who doubts is like a
wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by
the wind. For that person must not suppose
that he will receive anything from the
Lord.
9. From Promise To Reality
3. Be Accounted For.
b. Through prayer.
• Genesis 25: 21 Now Isaac prayed to the
LORD for his wife, because she was
barren; and the LORD granted his prayer,
and Rebekah his wife conceived.
• John 14:13 Whatever you ask in My
name, this I will do, that the Father may
be glorified in the Son.
• James 4:17 So also faith by itself, if it
does not works, is dead.
