Abram has left everything behind to follow the call of God, but what he had been carrying in his heart is now poured out into prayer before God. He is afraid of something, and God knows what it is. Abram had been seeking God for a desire of his heart, but there had been no answer. Up to this point, we don’t have any record of a complaint, but God provokes Abram, and then it spills out.
“After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘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 offspringbe.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15 v 1-6)
Who is Eliezer? Is he Abram’s chief servant? Abram’s fear is that all that God had given him, and more importantly, the promise that God will give more, looks very unlikely because there is no son to receive his inheritance. Remember how God promised Abram he would be the founder of a great nation?
There is a gap between the current reality and the promise he received.
How can I become a nation with no heir?
So he prays, “Sovereign Lord …” This is a wonderful title expressing his faith that God can do anything. At the same time, Abram is confused as to why He hasn’t done this one thing.
We, too, face these confusing moments in our lives. Especially if you have a promise from God that you are holding on to, despite everything contradicting that.
In the vision, God takes Abram for a walk. On that walk, he is told to look up, something that we all need to do at times. Count the stars. Abram tries to do the impossible task. At some point, he stops counting, but that task leads him to choose to believe. He will believe what God has said, not what Abram can see (no son). God knows Abram cannot count the stars, but the exercise reveals to Abram that His promise far outweighs Abram’s comprehension. God is going to do something that is beyond his ability to measure. He can’t have the fine details on this. He won’t be able to work it out. This is beyond his ability to make it happen. The stars are uncountable; just when you think you have got a number, you see more, or someone offers you a telescope, and it becomes a whole new universe.
The point being is this: the God who put the stars in place has given Abram, a 75-year-old man, a promise that is impossible, a son. Trying to do the impossible of counting the stars moves the complaint of disbelief, and what is handed to Abram is an invitation to trust God.
Go out into the night sky. The promises God has given you far outweigh anything you can understand. His ways are higher. Perhaps you need to look up today and try counting the stars, the same ones that Abram tried. God can do it for you.
Missions Paul 