Look up, calm down

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.” –Genesis 15:1 (NIV)

More than a handful of years had passed since YHWH first made the promise to Abram that he would father a nation (Gen. 12). When the promise was long in coming, Abram became anxious – he was not a young man. When God approached to reassure him, Abram’s response reflected his doubt. Notice the wording: “But Abram said…”. Not “And Abram replied” or “Then Abram worshiped” or “And Abram thanked God”. The next words from Abram are going to be a rebuttal. He asked a pointed question.

But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” –Genesis 15:2 (NIV)

There appears to be a pause between verses 2 and 3. How long was it? Long enough that the writer clarifies that Abram is the one who is picking the thread back up. The question goes unanswered, so Abram answers it himself, with what seems, to him, to be the only reasonable solution. The Living Bible captures the raw emotion of Abram’s words: “O Lord Jehovah, what good are all your blessings when I have no son?”

And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” –Genesis 15:3 (NIV)

English translations tend to err on the side of “cleaning up” the presentation of characters who are addressing the Almighty. I get that. It isn’t proper to approach God flippantly or disrespectfully and a translation of Scripture that encouraged that would be a questionable translation. But a closer reading of the Bible often leads me to the realization that my “prayer words” do not have to be elegant or sterilized. God gets it. He does not turn away those souls who are doubting, frustrated, at the end of their rope. His ears are not too dainty to hear the reality of how we are feeling.

He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” –Genesis 15:5a (NIV)

After reminding Abram that He would, in fact, complete the work He had started when He called him, God used a very simple, very effective object lesson to illustrate His intentions. “See the stars? That’s how many descendants you will have!” The very act of looking up served to calm Abram down. The night sky reminded Abram that God works on a bigger plan on a bigger stage with a bigger timetable.

Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness. –Genesis 15:6 (NIV)

Twenty-five years would pass between the time Abram first received the promise and the time the son of promise was born. In the meantime, Abram would show himself sometimes fearful, sometimes heroic. He would get a name change, he would receive (endure?) the mark of circumcision as a bodily reminder that he was in covenant with God, and he would attempt to “help” God fulfill the promise. Apparently, it takes time to build the father of nations and the “father of faith”. But God is patient. And God is persistent. And God is good. Believe it!