Today, we are going to take a look at the passage of Scripture from Genesis 15:1-21 where God promises Abram a son. In this passage, some important truths about God’s faithfulness shine through including; his power, and his love for us. As we delve into this powerful passage of Scripture, let us pray that God opens our hearts and minds to receive his Word.
This is the story from the Bible where God promises Abram, later known as Abraham, a son, even though his wife was barren.
And, the fulfillment of God’s blessing here presents only one of the many miracles recorded in the Old Testament and Genesis.
Read on to see how this message can apply to your life today.
Covenant from God to Abram ( Abraham ) – God Promises Abram a Son
And Abram said, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.”
Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.”
And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.”
And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. – Genesis 15:3-6 NASB
With God, the Impossible Becomes Possible
There are many lessons to be pulled from this story of Abram. Of course, I cannot go into all of them but will try to cover a few key points.
One of the most important lessons from this story is the importance of trust in God, and how staying faithful to His words can bring many blessings. Abram discovered this through the miracle of birth to an old man.
No Medical Science
It is a sad situation not to be able to have children. And, in those days there was no such thing as artificial insemination or pills to help induce pregnancy. So Abram was stuck with the hand he was dealt.
Or, was he?
God created nature’s laws so He could provide for any need, even a child if it is His will. For example, in a later lesson, God provides a ram for Abraham to sacrifice instead of his son, Isaac. This was when He tested Abraham’s faith.
Importance of Heirs
Abram was a man who had it all; land, riches; a good wife; all the material things we would deem in today’s world as “success”.
But, he didn’t have a son.
In the Hebrew tradition family was all-important as land and wealth were passed on to sons.
No Social Security or Welfare
Sons were expected to provide for their parents in their old age and to take care of them if they became ill. This tradition meant that families were required to stay close together and to show loyalty to one another.Also, the son took care of the widowed mother as there were no social services available.
In many cases, the widow had a choice to either beg in the streets or die.
This bit of background is just to let you know how much depended upon a man having a male heir.
Faith
Abram’s biggest asset was his unending faith in God. His faith allowed him to accomplish great things, and ultimately bring about many blessings.
When God told Abram that his descendants would outnumber the stars, he believed Him. Their relationship and his willingness to follow gave him the faith he needed.
As an anonymous author once wrote:
“To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.”
The good news? We can have a relationship with God as well because of the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Our Direct Line to God
Jesus made it possible for us to communicate directly with God. All we have to do is accept Him as Lord and Savior. Jesus’ death on the cross paid for the sins of mankind, allowing us to be forgiven and have a right relationship with God.
This relationship gives us direct access to the Father and the ability to communicate with Him through prayer. It’s like being granted a VIP pass to the king’s court, granting access that would otherwise be prohibited. Jesus’ death and resurrection is the key that unlocks the door to direct communication with the King.
If you have made that commitment then reaffirm it and, if not, will you ask Christ into your life today?
Love in Christ
– Bob
If you would like to discover how you can experience the life-changing presence of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to see how to accept Christ.