Genesis 15-17:27

Good evening all,

Sorry for the delay in posting. It's been a hectic day.

1) "I am a shield to you. Your reward will be very great." I just get an overwhelming sense of God's love for Abram here. God states that He is Abraham's protection. The thought of God being our shield to protect us from danger, the one who shields us in His arms is just such a great comfort. How much are we who have been called in Christ Jesus shielded by His own love for us? Very much indeed.

2) But Abram is concerned. He had God's love and protection, but how could God truly be faithful if He will not provide what He promised Abram - a son, an heir. But God reiterates to Him: one from your own loins will be your heir and offspring. And then God takes him outside to look at the stars. He asks Abram to count the stars if he can. God tells him, "So shall your offspring be." I've always loved looking at the stars, and the vastness of the universe amazes me. But what amazes me more is the vastness of God's love and graciousness toward those whom He has called, and who respond in love and service to Him. God is truly amazing and breathtaking!

3) "Abram believed God, and it was counted to Him as righteousness." Abram trusted in what God had said, and because of this, he was counted holy before God. Without getting too much into the theology, Paul picks this up in Galatians 3:6. This is a prime example of a time when in the Old Testament, God counted people righteous and holy by their faith. See, God bestowed His grace through faith even in the Old Testament.

4) God swears a covenant with Abram - a solemn promise - that He will give this land to his descendants. Those descendants are the Jewish people, and the land is Israel. Although this leaves a great deal of questions about the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, I don't think the point of this passage is the land as much as it is that God will make Abram's lineage great and they will bless the nations. Again, this points to Jesus Christ, Son of God and son of Abraham, Who is the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:1).

5) Abram gets impatient (so does Sarai) and so Sarai sends Abram to conceive a child with her servant Hagar (since Sarai cannot conceive). It's a classic example of taking matters into our own hands instead of waiting for God. Although we're told that Ishmael, the son to be born to Hagar, will be blessed, he is not the offspring of which God is speaking. There is still one yet to come. How often do we in our lives try to do God's work for Him, instead of letting God work in and through us? How often do we get impatient with God? When we learn to wait upon the Lord, we display our trust in Him, because it is a sign that we are patient and trusting enough to let Him work out His plans in His time.

There is more to write, but it is all I have time for at the moment. Perhaps I'll pick up a few more ideas later in the evening or tomorrow. In the mean time, may the peace of Christ be with you.

- Pastor Nathan