In today’s reading of Tyndale’s OYCSB (with featured content written by the CBT team),
- Abram has acted by faith.
- After rescuing Lot from the kings who captured him and recovering all of the wealth that was taken in the war...
- Abram has declared that Creator God alone is his King.
- He has refused to keep any of the possessions that belong to the king of Sodom.
- Now God responds to Abram's faith obedience by confirming:
- Abram, who is still learning how to walk by faith and not by sight, has 3 questions for God in today's reading:
- How are you going to keep your promise to me? I don't have a son, and my servant is currently the heir of my household.
- How will I know that you are going to give my descendants the land, since I will be dead when you fulfill this promise?
- Once Ishmael is born, Abram asks God to simply fulfill His promise through Ishmael...because...well...after all...Abram is 100 years old.
- The way God responds to Abram's questions teaches us that God is not afraid of our questions or frustrated with our confusion when what we see with our eyes doesn't match up with what He has said, but rather God desires that we order our lives according to what He has said instead of reacting to our circumstance.
- As God responds to Abram's struggle to understand how God will make him a great nation even though he still has no offspring, God provides pictures of His promises, speaks future things, and He acts to define the covenant to which God is obligating Himself.
- This pictures, future things, and covenant ceremonies reveal God's character, the nature of our faith, and the consequences of our refusal to wait on Him.
- God is faithful, He picks up the broken pieces of our lives, and He patiently trains us so that we learn to trust Him in all things.
- Parents, listen to this before you share it with your children...I'll be careful in how I word things, but today's content might be difficult for unready ears!
Genesis 15:1 (NLT) “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” Let’s dive into today’s reading!
