City Life Starter

Written by Chris Pate

The Word

15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, 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, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Genesis 15:1-6 (ESV)

²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Galatians 3:29 (ESV)

Reflection

This passage is such an important passage to read and understand to reflect on the incredible grace of God displayed with Abraham, the “father of the faith.” Abram, here, is not questioning God in unbelief, but rather, he is asking a question to God about his promise to give him an heir (Gen. 12:1-3). This promise to Abram was not based on Abram’s righteousness or sinlessness, but based on his trust and faith in God to provide. So, he is reminding God of His promises and inquiring about them as he is not getting any younger. God not only answers him, but gives him a beautiful picture of how many his descendants will be. It’s as if God is saying, “When you look down at your own body and its inability, look up at the heavens and be reminded of the numerous stars. The stars I made. Lift your head high, knowing I can easily gift you a child if I created the stars.” Abram believed the Lord and scripture tells us that God counted this belief to him as righteousness. 

This belief, or faith, was not just an idea; faith is a commitment. It’s an imagination which you commit yourself to, and you trust God, and you act accordingly. This commitment to God made him righteous, because he believed the words of God, despite what he felt or saw. 

As Thomas R. Schreiner states,

In Romans 4 and Galatians 3 Paul emphasizes that Abraham was saved by faith, not works, by believing not achieving, by resting not performing. The emphasis on God’s grace in Genesis 15—the Lord passed through the cut up animals alone—indicates, contrary to Block, that we should not construe Abraham’s faith as his righteousness. Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness, not because of his great faith, but because of the object of his faith—the Lord himself.

“Preaching Christ from the Old Testament and from Genesis 15:1–6,” Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 22, no. 3, Southern Baptist Journal of Theology (2018): 81.

Application

This text can seem like only good news for Abraham, but according to Paul it is good news for us as well. As heirs of the promise due to faith in Christ, we too are Abraham’s seed (Galatians 3:29). What does that mean? Well, I’m so glad you asked. It means that we are also children of God, insiders of the family, and not outsiders. This is not due to our incredible acts of goodness, but on this continual grace that God has shown through the ages. We too can lift our heads high, even in hard times or seemingly impossible situations because God is with us. We can believe, not just in word, but in deed as well. This faith in God as our Father, not just Abraham’s father, changes how we approach all of life and prayer.

When I was in college at Howard Payne University and my dad was hundreds of miles away in Arkansas (where he lived at the time) I would often call to talk to him (code for asking him for money). As a financially struggling student, my job at Hastings in Brownwood, TX only paid so much. I needed help from outside of myself while working and attending school. When my dad would say that he would send a check in the mail, I was extremely thankful and acted as if I received this check long before I actually saw it. My faith in my dad’s word to send the check allowed me to not worry or doubt when I would look in my account and see single digits. I knew my dad sent it, so it was as good as mine. He didn’t send it because I am so great but because he is kind and able.

This assurance of faith that Abraham had that God would come through on his promises allowed him to act as if he already received it before he actually saw it. This is not name it and claim it, blab it and grab it, kind of faith. That kind of faith still has to do with the person’s achievements. This kind of faith was not in self, but in a true Father who was good in and of Himself and able to do what He said He would do. 

Maybe you’re believing for a miracle today. Maybe you’re struggling to believe God really loves you and embraces you as His child. Whatever it is, look at Abraham as an example to follow. Even more importantly, let this fix your eyes on God and His goodness, His ability, His word and remember, the checks are in the mail.

Prayer

Father open my eyes to see Your holiness and Your ability far beyond my own. I am weak alone, but You are strong. Thank You that You are a far better Father than I can ever be a child of Yours and yet, because of Jesus, I can bow my head and boldly trust You. Don’t let me limit You and allow me to hear Your voice, Your call and walk in Your ways. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen!