Abraham, right with God
Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”
But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”
Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith. Genesis 15:1-6
What happens in this passage forms the foundation of true Christian faith. It’s where Abram simply believes, and through it, becomes ‘right with God’ or, theologically, ‘righteous’.
It all starts with revelation. God appears to him again:
Abram (yes, he’s still Abram!) has just rescued his nephew, Lot who was captured as collateral in what sounds like a mighty war for that period in the Ancient Near East. You can read about in Genesis 14. Following that escapade, Abram gave back much of the spoils he recovered (including an offering to Melchizedek, King of Salem) and no doubt lived in fear of what might happen next…
So, no wonder when he appears, the Lord says ‘Do not be afraid’ to him in verse 1! As part of that, he promises Abram protection (“I will be your shield” in some translations) and great reward. Sounds great! A family to protect him, a place to live and call his own.. But how will this happen if Abram has no sons?
This is where Abram’s faith starts rising. God takes him outside and shows him the stars of the sky. “Can you number them, Abram? Can you? That is how many descendants you will have!” (see verse 5)
Abram did nothing else. No exam. No test. No counting up of his good or bad deeds. His exploits with Lot had nothing to do with it. He just believed. How do we know this matters? Because the Apostle Paul tells us! As part of the divinely inspired canon of scripture, he expounds the faith of Abram in Romans 4, saying:
For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. (Romans 4:3-5)
Throughout the life of Abram, as he became Abraham and beyond we see his faith in God’s ability to deliver on his promise grow and grow. Yes his actions didn’t always add up (like saying Sarah was his sister) but in his heart he did not waiver (cf. Romans 4:20)
In fact later in this passage, God cuts a covenant with Abram, and he is the one at stake. He is the one who becomes like those bifurcated beasts if he does not uphold his promise.
Today we know that Jesus DID die for us. Not because he broke the promise. But because he kept it! He died to make it possible for Abram, for his descendants, for US to be right with God. That NOTHING might keep us from knowing God and experiencing his love for us.
