Genesis 15 -- What God Said

Wow!  To hear God say to you, “Don’t be afraid!  I will defend you and I will give you a great reward!”

I hadn’t thought about it, but my commentary mentioned that Abram could have been worrying that the defeated kings might regroup and seek revenge r his victory over them.  As to the reward, what would happen to the promise of the Redeemer if Abram were killed?

There was a lot of discussion in my commentary about emotions – that we are made in the image of God, and this includes our emotions:  “While it is unwise to trust your emotions and bypass your mind, or let your emotions get out of control, it is also unwise to deny and suppress your emotions and become a religious robot.”

The Bible is filled with stories of men who told God honestly how they felt, and God didn’t treat that as unbelief.  In verse 2, when Abram tells God, “I have no son,” my commentary says he’s not only concerned for just himself and his wife, but also “for the working out of God’s plan of salvation for the whole world.  God had a glorious plan, and God made a gracious promise, but God seemed to be doing nothing.  Abram and Sarai were getting older, and time was running out.”

“God’s will must be fulfilled in God’s way and in God’s time” it said.  “What Abraham and Sarah did not realize was that God was waiting for them to be as good as dead so that God alone would receive the power and glory … He walked with God for a century.  In spite of Abraham’s occasional failures, he accomplished the will of God and brought blessing to the whole world.”

Yesterday, we were all made aware of the horrific ISIS burning-alive of the Jordanian pilot.  I couldn’t help but think how it was directly related to Abraham’s efforts to help God out coming in the next chapter.  We’ll never know what harm our own such actions might someday cause down the centuries.  It’s best not to hurry Him or doubt Him.

Father, help me to be steadfast in my trust in You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford