his September, we are focusing on the stories that make up the cornerstones of the Christian faith. Last week, we focused on Adam and Eve and their lack of trust in God. They didn’t follow God’s instruction to not eat from the Tree of Knowlege of Good and Evil. After God discovered their lack of trust in God and God’s rules, they were punished by being sent out of the Garden of Eden and having to fend for themselves in the world.
This morning, we are turning to the Covenant God made with Abraham. Many years passed after Adam and Eve’s fall....people continued to be like Adam and Eve – making mistakes, not listening to God, not trusting God. Abram and Sarai were from the land of Ur. God called them to leave their homeland and move to a new land...they trusted God and they believed God’s promise make their descendants as numerous as grains of sand. They also trusted God’s promise to use them to bless the whole world.
Abram and Sari were nomadic and had herds of animals. When their camp became too large for the land to sustain all the herds and people, Abran’s nephew Lot took his part of the family and the animals and settled in another area.
Abram kept waiting for God to fulfill God’s promise to his family – but he started to worry about how he would have numerous descendants if he and his wife were aging and remained childless. The window of opportunity seemed to be quickly closing....when was God going to keep God’s promise?
We pick up the story in Genesis chapter 15. Listen now to the word of God:
The Scripture Genesis 15:1-6
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.”
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?”
And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
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.”
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.”
Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Here ends this reading of the Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Amen
Let us pray....
The Message God’s Promise to Abraham
Trusting God is often difficult. Last week, we read the story of how Adam and Eve failed to trust God by breaking the one rule God established for them – he told them to not eat the fruit of one tree, one tree surrounded by countless other trees bursting with fruit. They had plenty to eat and plenty of fun things to do to keep busy in their lush garden. But, the one tree God told them to avoid was too tempting for them. They couldn’t resist taking a bite of the one tree’s fruit they were told to avoid.
This morning, we turn to the story of Abram and Sarai, the patriarch and matriarch of the people of God who would be renamed Abraham and Sarah. The couple did a better job than Adam and Eve when it came to the trust department. They were faithful followers of God who took the risk of leaving their homeland and moving to another land because God told them to move. They relocated over and over again when God told them to move. They were attacked by outside groups. They were at risk of being captured and enslaved. They were uncomfortable and vulnerable. And, they trusted God’s promise to make them the parents of a great nation and countless offspring.
But, in the reading this morning, apparently Abram’s trust was wearing thin. He was afraid God wasn’t going to come through. And, he expressed his fears when Abram talked to God. God took Abram outside and had him look at the stars. God again reiterated God’s promise – Abram's offspring would be countless...as numerous as the stars in the sky.
And, God’s promise did come true. Eventually, Sarah did become pregnant. She birthed Isaac as an elderly mom. Sarah fits the definition of the term “geriatric pregnancy” -- she was around 90 when Isaac was born. And, Isaac had two sons. And those sons had many children. Jacob had 12 sons and a daughter, Esau had more. Abraham’s family line descended to Jesus, and although he didn’t have biological children, through Jesus billons of people have been adopted into the family of Abraham and the family of God. We are the sons and daughters of Abraham – we are brothers and sisters in Christ – and we are the children of God.
Abraham and Sarah trusted God...they trusted when it was hard....they trusted when it was dangerous...they trusted when God’s promises seemed impossible. Most of us don’t expect barren 90 year old women to become pregnant....but it happened once or twice – Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist had a similar pregnancy. Abraham and Sarah are examples of the good that comes when we count on and trust God....despite the odds, God comes through.
Trust is hard. It is especially difficult to trust God when bad things are happening to us and to the people we love. Sometimes we don’t understand God’s plans. God sees a bigger picture for us and for humanity than we understand. We must remember St. Paul’s words to us that echo down from his letter to the Romans: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” So, even when we don’t understand God’s plan for us, we must remember and understand that God has a plan for us. And, that plan is Good.
Abraham and Sarah trusted God. God’s promise of countless descendants was fulfilled. But, Abraham and Sarah didn’t live to meet them in person in this lifetime. They met Isaac...one of the future countless offspring. They didn’t meet their grandchildren and great grandchildren and two-thousandth great grandchildren. But, they trusted in God, and God’s promises came true.
Let us work together to be like them, to trust God and to trust that God’s promises for us do indeed come true.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment