Believing When Not Yet Seeing
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, I bow before You today in awe of Your holy character and of all that You have done.
Read GENESIS 15:1-6
[1] After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” [2] But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” [3] And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” [4] Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” [5] He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars-if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” [6] Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What great promise did God make to Abraham?The incidents recorded in Genesis 14 left Abraham fearful about the future. God reassures Abraham of his presence and protection. Interestingly, the doubt is that God can fulfill his promise to give him a son.
Abraham’s fear leads him to work out a plan of his own regarding his descendants. There is no son and heir, therefore a servant will inherit. Abraham cannot see any other option for the future. How often do we come up with our own plans of how things should work out when God’s promises are delayed and are not materializing?
Again God reassures Abraham. He is learning the basic lesson of faith: God is faithful and true to his word. As Abraham takes in the power and creativity of God displayed by the stars, he responds with belief and finds acceptance with God. The one who made the stars is not going to have trouble enabling an old man and his barren wife to conceive!
Our readings in Romans have shown us how this faith and trust in God is fundamental to being a Christian.
Apply
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). Bring to him anything that is trying your faith and trust.
Closing prayer
Almighty God, I do trust You and I only ask for faith to be able to trust You even more fully.
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