Saturday, November 1, 2014
When We Believe
When we read about Abram (Abraham) in the bible there is an interesting aspect of his life that can be overlooked. God came to him and told him to pack up and move. When God told him this, God also told him that he would become a great nation. God told him that many would bless him and that those that blessed him He, God, would bless. At age 75, Abram pulled up camp and moved. In my memory I had thought that this was when he believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. But that is not correct. It was not until Abram was much older and God had repeated this promise to him for years that a special moment occurred.
Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
2 And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
4 And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
It was this third time that God told Abram that He would bless him with children that Abram believed and it was counted to him for righteousness. It sounds as if Abram was really down about not having the promised child yet. When he was in that desperate moment and God made the promise again, Abram was lamenting to God with what sounds like a heavy heart. God did not reject Abram for it but continued to talk with him. When Abram believed one more time, that is when it was counted to him for righteousness.
Today, if you are facing a challenge, believe one more time. God is on our side and He alone can and will rescue you.
Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy to be honored by our praises. Let Your kingdom reign here today. Send us Your overwhelming abundant provision to overflowing that we might bless others. Forgive us when we fall and help us to forgive us that wrong us. Heal us and deliver us. Rise up to our rescue. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.