When I was a kid, I was afraid of the dark.
To help me get past it, my dad would stay in the room with me for a few minutes after turning the lights off. I would ask, “Daddy, are you still there?” And he would say, in that southern drawl that still brings a smile to my face, “Oh yeah…I’m still here, son.”
When I called, “Are you still there? ” he answered. His words secured my hope that no monster, hobgoblin, or frightening creature of my imagination would find its way from under my bed.
After facing a certain amount of darkness, perhaps Abram wondered, “God, You’ve been quiet for a while; are you still there?” We have no Scriptural evidence that Abram said anything of God, but the Lord knows everything in our hearts. He knows us better than we know ourselves.
With this in mind, we read Genesis 15:1-6 in our ongoing study of Genesis.
1 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:
Genesis 15:1-6, New International Version
“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield,
your very great reward.”
2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
The first two words, “after this,” connect us to the mysterious events with Melchizedek and the King of Sodom. Abram confessed his reliance on the Lord in response to the king of Sodom (Genesis 14:22–24). Following that, the patriarch of God’s chosen people received a vision.
In this vision, Abram has a conversation with the Lord. The Lord begins the conversation by reminding Abram of their relationship. The Lord was still his God, and the Lord could be trusted.
Abram wondered how this promise of immeasurable offspring would be accomplished when his possessions went to a servant because he had no children. The Lord was the giver of life, and Abram knew it was the Lord Who had not given him and Sarai a child.
There’s no anger or sarcasm here. The title Abram uses is a term of great respect. “Sovereign Lord” is the Hebrew expression “Adonai Yahweh” and clarifies that Abram is not blaming God for Sarai’s barrenness but is stating that they don’t have children because God has not given them.
As such, under the traditions of Abram’s day, his servant would be his heir.
Then, we hit verse four. The Lord states, “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” WOW! Do you see what the Lord told Abram? It would be his biological child that is the child of the promise. It is not a servant but will be his own child!
This vision profoundly and precisely promised that Abram’s offspring would be his flesh and blood.
The Lord confirms this revelation in verse five: “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” The promises of a countless legacy will come through this son to be given to Abram.
This is the “substance” of faith: waiting on God to “make good” on His promises. In the famous “hall of faith” in Hebrews 11, the author begins with this: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).
What was Abram’s response? “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).
“Faith is not trusting God to get something,” Buell Kazee writes in Faith in the Victory, “Faith is trusting God when there seems to be nothing left.”
Abram still didn’t have this child. At this point, Sarai was not pregnant. He chose to believe the Lord. He had already exhibited faith in leaving Ur…but Abram believed God. He took a leap of faith while God was working.
When Abram must’ve felt all alone, the Lord showed up and reminded Abram that He was still there.
You can trust the Lord too, saint. He’s still there.
Life Meets Theology 