Abraham's Faith Crisis
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 (Genesis 15:1 NKJV).
“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! (Genesis 15:2 NKJV).
In Genesis 1-15, the Creator of Heaven and Earth has spoken in almost every chapter. He spoke and created the world. He spoke after the Fall, and when Cain killed Abel. Who could forget God speaking to Noah before and after the Flood? He made a covenant with Noah and the entire world, giving them a glimpse of His heavenly rainbow. The whole incident at the Tower of Babel also comes to mind. God showed up in many unusual ways. Even Abraham had his share of God moments. The Lord helped him escape a terrible situation in Egypt. He almost lost his wife and messed up God’s plan. The Lord also helped him win an impossible battle with four of the greatest superpowers of his day.
But, as we come to Genesis 15, Abraham didn’t feel victorious. He felt discouraged and afraid. He was having a faith crisis. He was discouraged that God hadn’t blessed him with a son. Without a son, he wouldn’t have any descendants to inherit the land of Canaan. Maybe he thought the Lord was mad at him, and that is why he didn’t have any children.
He was also afraid that those kings might come, seeking revenge for him taking their stuff. Even though it was his stuff, they wouldn’t see it that way. I can imagine the one battle took a lot out of the almost 80-year-old man. If he were like us today, he might have gotten up the next day feeling all kinds of aches and pains. God may have given him and his men a great victory, but he wasn’t ready to face the world the next day.
Have you ever felt that way? God has done many good things in your life, but the pain and problems of life drain and zap your courage to trust in Him. I sure have.
Abraham’s Vision and Conversation With God
Thank goodness the Lord came to him in a vision, which turned into a day-long conversation with God. The Lord encouraged him by saying, “I am your shield and great reward. Don’t be afraid.” See Genesis 15:1.
“Lord”, said Abraham, “what can you give me? I have no children to carry on my name.” See Genesis 15:2.
Had he lost hope and given up on the idea of having children? Did it alter his understanding of who the Lord was? That might be true if all we thought about was this life. But the promises of God reach beyond this life into a world far greater than we can imagine.
What if Abraham had never had children and ended up adopting a child to carry on his name? Would that have changed who God was? Abraham forgot how the Lord helped him escape Egypt with his wife and, against all odds, won a great battle. Sometimes the problems of this life cause us to forget what the Lord has done and continues to do in our lives.
That was a terrible way to talk to and about God. Abraham knew better; he was a man of faith. But don’t worry, the Lord will keep working on him to see the light and regain his faith in God. I am so glad the Lord doesn’t give up on us. We all struggle from time to time, but His divine nature causes us to trust, wait, and believe in Him. He is our great reward, even if the miracle doesn’t come. Abraham may have lost his confidence in God, but the Lord was faithful to His promise. It’s the same for us today.
In Genesis 15:4-6, the Lord reassured Abraham that he would have a child who would be his heir. His descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. When Abraham saw the beautiful stars, a peace settled over his heart, and renewed his faith.
Abraham decided to believe what the Lord told him. And it pleased the Lord who accounted him righteous. He knew the God who created the stars could and would fulfill his promise to him and his descendants.
Yet Abraham had one more question: How would he inherit the land that God promised him? There were many kings and powerful kingdoms with large armies. He was a humble old man who could fight if he had to, but taking on these huge dynasties? That was almost suicide (Genesis 15:6-7).
God’s Dream and Covenant
Shortly after this, the Lord told Abraham to bring Him several animals for a huge offering. There was a female goat, a ram, a turtle dove, and a young pigeon. There was also a heifer, which is like our cow today. Abraham spent much of the day cutting and separating the offering. He even had to fight off the vultures that tried to grab the exposed meat (Genesis 15:9-11).
As the sun went down, Abraham fell into a deep sleep. He was exhausted. God spoke to Abraham while he was sleeping. The biblical text states that “horror and darkness fell upon him” (vs. 12). This sounds like a nightmare, but it was exactly what Abraham needed. Notice what the Lord says to him.
“Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete” (Genesis 15:13-16 NKJV).
Moments later, in the darkness of the night, Abraham saw a “smoking oven and a burning torch.” They passed through all the pieces of his offering (vs. 17). Scripture doesn’t say what happened to the offering. But I think the heat from the oven and torch zapped it, leaving nothing behind. Our God has been described in Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29 as a consuming fire. After the spectacular light show, the Lord made a covenant with Abraham and his family.
Conclusion
It was an unforgettable day when God came to Abraham in a vision and a dream. Abraham saw and heard things that inspired him to believe in the Lord’s promise that He would have children. His supernatural encounter helped him understand God’s plan. It also relieved his fears of having to fight in a war he knew he couldn’t win. The Lord helped him through a major faith crisis. I am so glad that God still helps His people today. He is, after all, the author and finisher of our faith who endured the cross for us (Hebrews 12:2). A little talk with Jesus could make all the difference in the world.
Have a great day, your friend, the Christian Writer.