Abram is the son of an idol worshipper. In fact, his parents made the idols. So not exactly a top pick for God to pick to start His chosen family.
And Abram messes up quite a bit (like all of us). When God calls him to leave his family, he packs them up to take on the journey with him. The family causes delay (no, not our own family members causing delay in trips, am I right?).
He goes into Egypt and lies to save his own skin. Convinces his wife, Sarai, to say that they are brother and sister so that Pharaoh and the Egyptians won’t kill him to get to Sarai.
His own nephew, Lot, chooses to live in sin city and has to be rescued. Only for him to return to sin city….
Needless to say, Abram has a lot going on, and he seems to make messes everywhere he goes.
But Abram is missing the one thing he wants the most…. A son.
See back then, if you didn’t have children, you were deemed useless. If you don’t have an heir, what is the point of having things and accumulating land or animals? If there is no one to continue your legacy, then your name dies with you.
And that is the worst thing that Abram can imagine.
Abram has went to war and won; and God gives him a vision saying:
“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” Genesis 15:1
And Abram replies “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” Genesis 15:2
He’s confused and he wants answers. What good is a reward if there is no one to pass it on to?
God tells Abram that the number of stars in the sky is how many descendants he will have, and he will have a son from his own flesh and blood.
And then, there’s one line that really captures the essence of who God is.
Genesis 15:6 “Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it him as righteousness”
This is the first and clearest expression of salvation by grace, through faith!
God didn’t count Abram as righteous because he was perfect or because he did everything right. He didn’t account for Abram’s good deeds. He didn’t ask him to recite any scriptures or be able to discern good and bad flawlessly. He didn’t ask what denomination he attended or if he participated in communion.
He was counted as righteous because of his faith alone.
So let us all take rest today in that there is no work you can do, there is no checklist, there is no standard that can keep you from God.
And that He will call you righteous by your faith alone.
by Alex Watt
