15:1
We now come to one of the most important chapters. The Lord appears to Abram and says “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great”. These words can be taken in various ways. Abram has just fought and won an important victory, and he has also made important financial decisions. He let Lot choose the bit of land he wanted, he then made an offering to Melchizedek while refusing to accept anything from the king of Sodom. These were all acts of faith. However, when we have taken a step of faith, chosen to do something God’s way rather than the world’s way we can feel vulnerable. God is assuring Abraham. However, there is also another reason for God saying this to Abram, which we will see in the next two verses.
15:2,3
Abram might seem to be a great man of faith, but there is also deep seated doubt in him. We should be careful how we judge people, not putting them on pedestals. Outwardly it might seem that they have it altogether, and there may be actions to demonstrate that their faith is real, but that does not mean that there are not areas of life where they struggle. Abram had been given great promises, but they all depended on him having offspring, and he had none, nor was there the prospect of there being any. So if he had no children, then his wealth would be inherited by someone else. “You have given me no offspring”. We might think he is blaming God, which in a sense he is, but these words also contain the seed of faith. For it is indeed God who gives offspring, and that is why Abraham and Sarah would indeed have offspring. There is also faith in that Abram took God’s words about his offspring seriously.
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