God had overpromised and underdelivered—at least that’s the way it appeared to Abram. God had told Abram that he would make “a great nation” of him, but as time passed, Abram had grown less sure about God’s promise. How could Abram become a great nation when he didn’t even have a child of his own?
A lot of life had happened since God’s initial promise to Abram, but the one thing that remained the same was Sarai’s barrenness. Understandably, Abram questioned God:
“O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless…you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” (Genesis 15:2-3)
But the Lord doubled down on his promise, this time with an object lesson. God sent Abram outside to look at the stars—not for a lesson in astrology, but for a lesson in trust. All those shining stars that God had hung in the sky, far too many to be counted? So would Abram’s offspring be—innumerable.
Just as God had doubled down on his promise, Abram doubled down on his trust: “And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Soon thereafter Abram became Abraham. And soon after that Abraham became “Father Abraham”—and it wouldn’t be long until Father Abraham would have many sons, and many sons would have Father Abraham, all because God keeps his promises.
Where do you need to trust God’s promises in your life? For provision? For protection? For deliverance? His timing might not always line up with your schedule—from my experience, it rarely does—but his timing is always right.
VC Devotionals 