Saturday, July 11, 2009
We Don't Always Really Believe God's Word
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
But Abram said, "Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" Then Abram said, "Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!" (Gen 15:1-3)
Those of us that name of the name of Jesus sing worship songs like, "You're all I need", but do we trust God enough to leave it at that? Abram was promised by God that a great nation would come forth from him, and that through him all nations of the earth would be blessed. Abram had his doubting moments about all this. "Things aren't working out the way I was expecting, Lord. What are you up to? How is all this going to work?" Abram pointed out to God that the head of his household was his current heir, and the Lord promised him an heir from his body.
And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir." Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. (Gen 15:4-6)
But even that clarification and assurance from the Lord wasn't enough for Abram. We tend to take things into our own hands when we don't believe that God will really come through (or at least when we think He won't come through the way we want). Abram ended up sleeping with Sarah's handmaid to produce a physical heir, rather than waiting on God to provide.
The good news is that God keeps His Word, and even when we are not faithful, He is faithful, for He cannot forsake His own.
If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. (2Ti 2:13)
Praise God!
Yours in Him,
Pastor B.
