Genesis 21 contains an easily overlooked detail. Abraham planted a tree. That doesn’t sound particularly important until you remember what had just happened. For decades, Abraham and Sarah had waited for the son God promised them. Years passed. They got older. There were mistakes along the way and moments when the promise seemed impossible. Then Isaac was born. Imagine Abraham holding that little boy. What had once required faith could now be seen, touched and held. Isaac was living evidence that God does what He says He will do. Promise made, believed, and fulfilled! That sounds like a good place to end the story. But the chapter doesn’t end with Abraham simply enjoying the fruit of yesterday’s promise. It ends with Abraham planting something for tomorrow.

He planted a tamarisk tree. A tamarisk isn’t a quick-growing plant that would provide Abraham instant shade. It takes time to mature. Abraham was planting something whose greatest benefit would be experienced in the future. Why would a man who had waited most of his life for God’s promise finally receive it—and then start planting again? Because Abraham understood something: Isaac wasn’t merely the fulfillment of God’s promise. Isaac carried the future of the promise. Abraham could see one boy, God could see generations. Inside Isaac was Jacob. Inside Jacob was Israel. Inside Israel was a nation. And ultimately, through that family line, Jesus would come.

Abraham was holding fruit in his arms, but there was more than fruit . There was a future.

That’s what faith does. Faith celebrates what God has done without assuming God is finished.

Then faith plants again. Faith plants for a future it cannot yet see.