Bible Reading Blog
“Abram Believed the LORD”
Categories: Congregational Bible ReadingBIBLE READING: Genesis 15
“And [Abram] believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 12.6)
God’s initial promise to Abram was certain, but vague (Genesis 12.1-3). When he packed up to move, Abram had no idea where he was going (Hebrews 11.8b). Besides that, he was getting older, and he didn’t have any kids from which to make a great nation. But off he went.
Abram’s actions of faith are something to behold. When God spoke, Abram moved (12.1,4; 13.14, 18). He would go and do whatever God said because Abram believed God. That is because Abram trusted God was inherently reliable, and his word sure. That is the point of our verse today. To some this seems like a blind leap of faith. But I believe this speaks to the clarity with which Abram saw God. He didn’t need to be told the same thing 50 different ways. He heard what God said and he looked forward to how it would be fulfilled. This sort of trust is fundamental to faith.
In a short time, Abram had seen the land of promise and tasted the fruit of God’s promise to bless him and curse his enemies. However, when God reiterates his commitment to Abram (Genesis 15.1), we discover his faith was not without questions. “What will you give me for I continue childless…?” (Genesis 15.2). “How am I to know that I shall possess [this land]?” (Genesis 15.7).
It is critical we understand that faith is not afraid to ask questions. All people of faith questioned how and when God would operate. But they did it out of trust, not doubt. Faith is not overly skeptical. God will teach us what we need to know. There are things we may not understand about this life or the one to come, but that is intentional. He is the one in charge and he will work in our best interest. That’s what we see as this chapter concludes.
God responds to Abram’s questions with another promise (Genesis 15.5) and display that would have eternal implications (Genesis 15.9-ff). This strange scene represented an ancient covenant ritual. Normally both parties would pass between the animals as a pledge of fidelity. But here, “God” passed through alone. Abram played his part in arranging the items, but it is God who gave the covenant certainty (Genesis 15.13).
Abram didn’t see many of these things come to fruition (Hebrews 11.13), but we know they did. We know that Israel was afflicted as slaves for 400 years in Egypt (Genesis 14.13; Exodus 1-2; 12.40; Acts 7.6-7). We know that God brought judgment on Egypt and brought his people out with great possessions (Genesis 14.14; Exodus 6.6; 12.36). We know that his people came back to the land God had promised (Genesis 14.16; Joshua 1.6) We know because it has been recorded for our learning (Romans 15.4).
But it was by faith that Abram believed God. Oh, for a faith like his! We are to see from him that faith looks forward to God’s promises. It longs for them to be fulfilled and it works to be the tool for their fulfillment. As we will see in later chapters, that sometimes leads to foolish decisions on our part. It appears Abram tried to “help” God out with this plan (Genesis 16). But as is always the case, God works all things together for good, in his way, on his time schedule. We must learn to trust him. To wait for him. To rest in his promises.
Abram believed God by ordering his life to see the fulfillment of God’s promises. Do we?
