Genesis 15:1-6

2007.Mar.17 17:47

Faith/Hope

Read Genesis 15:1-6 | Full Chapter

Later the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision, “Abram, don’t be afraid! I will protect you and reward you greatly.” But Abram answered, “LORD All-Powerful, you have given me everything I could ask for, except children. And when I die, Eliezer of Damascus will get all I own. You have not given me any children, and this servant of mine will inherit everything.”
(Genesis 15:1-3, CEV)

My first thought upon reading this is that perhaps Abram is getting a bit persnickety. The, “You’ve given me everything I could ask for, except”, gives me that idea. Then again, the except here is more significant than, say, a yacht, or one of those new-fangled Hybrid Camels. He’d like to have a child. That’s a reasonable request, unless you’re, say, in your nineties. Based on my understanding of the chronology (and I don’t have anything clear to back this up), Abram may have been in his nineties or so at this point.

For whatever reason (probably cultural), Abram particularly bemoans that his servant, Eliezer, will inherit Abram’s wealth, since he is childless. Inheritance is one of many fascinating issues to me throughout the Bible, but for the moment, I just want to note that this issue appears here, and wonder if Eliezer too could have inherited God’s promise to Abram of Canaan (Genesis 13:14-18).

The LORD replied, “No, he won’t! You will have a son of your own, and everything you have will be his.” Then the LORD took Abram outside and said, “Look at the sky and see if you can count the stars. That’s how many descendants you will have.” Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD was pleased with him.
(Genesis 15:4-6, CEV)

Jehovah replies that Eliezer won’t inherit from Abram, because Abram will have a son. And more than that, he will have many, many descendents. Now, this is a nice thought for Abram and all. His legacy will be carried on, and all that (sorry, I’m 25; I’m not old enough to talk about legacies yet without a chuckle.), but more importantly, Abram takes Jehovah at his word. Abram believes, and God is pleased with him. Want to please Jehovah, do as Abram, believe what God tells you, and be obedient.

"So from one man [Abraham],” says the author Hebrews, “though he was physically as good as dead, there have sprung descendants whose number is as the stars of heaven and as countless as the innumerable sands on the seashore" (Hebrews 11:12, AMP) . So, see, faith and obedience are my role. And God can cause that which seems hopeless to be.