How old was Abraham when God first promised him a nation through Sarai?
Abraham was 50 years old when God first promised that a nation of people would come from his very body and through his own wife, Sarai. The promise came 25 years before he left Haran at 75, and 50 years before the promised son arrived when he was 100.
Les explains that many people do not realize how many years passed. He thinks that when God first promised Abram that a nation would come from his body and with his own wife Sarai, Abram was only 50 years old, and he was pretty sure of it. Then 25 years go by before Abram even leaves Haran to go down into Canaan, making him 75. Another 14 years go by before they decide God is not going to do anything, so they take it into their own hands; Hagar has a child, and Abram is then 86. God did not come through with the promised son until Abraham was 100. So he waited 50 years, which is a long time, and no wonder he got impatient. Nevertheless, God's Word was sure: in due time, you'll have a son. But not every child of Abraham was the promised son; Ishmael was after the flesh, while Isaac was the son of promise.