Genesis 15

Genesis Chapter 15

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. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
(Gen 15:5-6)

Look at the context of this incredible declaration. Here is Abraham, worried about his future, about how the promise of God could possibly be fulfilled. The circumstances spoke of impossibility, Abraham was getting old, and he still had no kids! His idea here is, “I guess it will just have to be my servant Eleazar”. The Lord had other plans though.

Here He takes Abraham and shows him the stars in the sky, and believe me, I am sure he saw a lot. No “light pollution” from city sprawl, no skyscrapers throwing out the brightness of a city that never sleeps, Abraham saw the heaven’s in all their purity. A vast innumerable host, star upon star, further than the eye could see. God gives the promise: “so shall your seed be,” and we are told that Abraham BELIEVED.

Now, this is the first occurrence of this word in the Bible, and it is one of the most important words in ALL OF SCRIPTURE. It literally means that Abraham took that promise from God, and he trusted it, he stood firm on it. It carries with it a sense of permanence and rest. Abraham was truly convinced that God would do what He said…

This belief we are told, was counted to Abraham as RIGHTEOUSNESS. This is a fundamental passage in Scripture, the beginning of God’s covenant with His special people! By trusting in God Abraham had obtained a right standing with God. FAITH is the way that we can have a right relationship with God… even today! God has given us wonderful promises, and sometimes they seem just as impossible as Abraham’s situation… but when we take Him at HIS word, and stand firm on HIS promises, we obtain a RIGHT standing before Him, and He brings our life into its proper place!!!

“On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand… all other ground is sinking sand.”