Read: Genesis 15:1-6
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Ponder
Years later after the Garden incident, God tells a man by the name of Abram/Abraham to move. Pack the clothes, grab the camels, and go. God doesn’t tell him where; He just tells Abraham to enter the land He has promised him. God promises to make Abraham’s family a great nation, one that will bless all the peoples of the earth. Years go by. Years where there is no child.
But God reaffirms His promise by telling Abraham he will have a son. Decades after the first promise, Abram has the promised son. His family grows into a great nation, but God’s vision of blessing ALL the nations remained unfulfilled for generations more.
In due time, God’s promise to Abraham found its fulfillment in Jesus. On Christmas day a child was born who was, and continues to be, a blessing to all the people of the world.
Pray
Father, long ago You made a promise to Abraham to use him in blessing the nations. This promise was made and kept not because of anything in, about, or from Abraham. It was made and kept because of Your love, goodness, mercy, and faithfulness. God, You still keep your promises. You promise that when we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that Jesus rose from the dead, we will have life. You have promised that when you are feeling weak, especially as we seek to follow, honor, and serve You, You will give power to the faint. Father, there are so many more promises. May we prove faithful as we believe in You and Your promises.
