Count the Stars
Genesis 15:1-6
Genesis 11:27 These are the family records of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran, and Haran fathered Lot.
Genesis 12:1-3
1 The Lord said to Abram:
Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
The Three-Fold Promise:
1. Land- "Go from your land..." (12:1)
2. Descendants- "I will make you into a great nation..." (12:2)
3. The Whole Earth- "...all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (12:3)
Genesis 15:1-6
1 After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:
Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield;
your reward will be very great.
2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir.”
4 Now the word of the Lord came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.”
6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
What are the unfulfilled promises God has made to you?
What are the unfulfilled promises God has made to you?
Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
The primary aspect of 'righteous' is to trust God's future and to live assured of that future even in the barrenness of the present.
Romans 4:18-25
18 He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do. 22 Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.23 Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, 24 but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Where are you looking?
Often, resignation is where God enters the story with a reminder of His promise.
