A Great Name: Part 5

Genesis 15: 1-6

“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” 4 But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” 5 He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.”

Abram now had material wealth and land.  But he still had no children, no heirs.  God told him not to worry, that Abram’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Sometimes, trusting God is the easiest thing we can do.  At other times it is the hardest.  But in all situations, we are to trust God, trust His word, trust His presence and trust His love.

In Abram’s case, he was not getting any younger and neither was Sarai.  God’s promise seemed impossible.  Yet,  Abram believed the Lord.

And God declared him a righteous man.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)