ICS Daily Devotions
Faith in God’s Promises
Genesis 12:7 “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
God needed a man of faith who would trust him completely. He found this man in Abram. Abram’s family were idol worshipers from the Babylonian city of Ur but God called Abram out of this environment. He was told to leave his heathen land and go to another land that God would show him. God didn’t reveal the destination; He just demanded that Abram go and be willing to trust in His guidance. He had to begin by taking a step of faith. God promised to bless him and to make him a blessing.
When Abram arrived in Canaan, the future Promised Land, God continued to test Abram’s faith and built relationship with him. At times, Abram wondered how God will fulfil the promise because he was childless and his wife Sarai barren. But at appointed time, God was ready to make a covenant with Abram promising him descendants.
Genesis 15:1 “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
To say that “I am your Shield, your exceedingly great reward” was another way of God saying, “Here is My mantle and My belt”. God didn’t have a physical mantle to exchange with Abram, but since a mantle represents the person who wears it, we can see here that the Lord was giving Himself to Abram.
God was saying, “Abram, here I am. I offer Myself, what I am and what I have, to you. I am your Shield and your reward. I give you My holiness, My righteousness. I give you My life, Abram, and I promise you everything that a blood covenant demands if you accept this covenant. I am your Shield and I will protect you and fight for you. If anyone attacks you, it will be the same as an attack on Me. I shall bless you and make of you a great nation.”
Genesis 15:5-6: 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.
Abram had questions. It is good to be honest before God. God was now talking with an honest man who wanted an honest answer. We shouldn’t question God’s word, but if we lack wisdom, God wants us to ask Him about the things we don’t understand (James 1:5).
God gave Abram a clear answer that he would have a son of his own as his heir, and that his seed would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. And Abram believed this!
He was not perfect. He and his wife doubted at occasions. But God is faithful and looks to the heart of man. No one is perfect. David was not perfect. But the Lord looks at our heart and our attitude. And Abram’s attitude was full of faith and God accounted it to him for righteousness. His name was later changed to Abraham, meaning “father of many nations.”
The good news is that God is a good and loving God. We are not worthy, yet He has given us everything by His grace. We do not need to add anything to it. We just believe in what God has already prepared for us. His unconditional covenant with us stands firm! It sets us free and gives us the eternal life. Let us stretch our faith to live out the promises that God has given us in Christ!
Sermon series: Blood Covenant
