After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. -- Genesis 15:1-6
When last we met, Abram was enjoying one of the high points of his life. He started off as a wayfaring pilgrim leaving his home at the age of 75. He soon encountered a famine and was forced to flee to Egypt. There he felt compelled to deceive Pharaoh and place his wife, Sarai, in a compromising position to avoid his being slain. The Lord miraculously delivered Abram and his family as they were simultaneously expelled from Egypt and given great wealth. Soon afterwards, their riches divided Abram and his nephew, Lot, who was subsequently captured by an invading army. Against all odds, Abram and a few hundred of his servants rescued Lot and all the other captives from the raiding army. Upon returning home, Abram was met by the King and Priest Melchizedek, who blessed him and to whom Abram gave "tithes of all."
Ironically, it is on the heels of Abram's mountain-top experience that we find him lamenting. Although he was rich in goods, valiant at arms, respected by kings, and blessed by God, Abram recognized that his success was limited by his mortality. When God came to him "in a vision" Abram simply asked, "Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless?"
At first glance it appears that Abram is being a bit ungrateful, but closer inspection reveals that he does not want more for himself but rather to share what he has. Abram's perspective was maturing from a self-centered view to a long-term one encompassing future generations. He was not the only one recorded in the scriptures to undergo this transformation: both kings David and Solomon, though they enjoyed unmatched personal success in their day, eventually reached a point where they were most concerned about their children. In the New Testament several of the apostles seem to have experienced a similar concern for their spiritual descendants -- the church.
It seems likely that Abram's complaint was about his lack of biological offspring. And God answers Abram's prayer by promising him a biological heir even though it seemed an impossibility considering Abram's & Sarai's advanced age. But the Lord goes even further in His promise to Abram by adding that Abram's children will be as numerous as the stars. By the grace of God, Abram "believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness."
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. -- Jeremiah 23:5-6
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. -- Romans 3:21-26
Romans 10:4 declares, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."
The Hebrew word translated "righteousness" in Genesis 15:6 is tsadaqah; and it is defined as justice, righteousness, and truthfulness. Although tsadaqah appears 150 times in the Old Testament in a variety of contexts, one of the recurring themes of the word is God's righteousness in a saving or justifying manner. Based on the language of Genesis 15:6 (i.e. "...he counted it to him for righteousness), such seems to be the use here. Although Abram is a sinner by birth, God counts him righteous because "he believed in the LORD."
What Abram did or did not understand about this promise is not all that pertinent for us today. What is pertinent for us today is what we understand, so let's review what God has revealed so far.
Genesis 3:15 says, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."
The Savior will be descended from Eve and will destroy the Devil.
Genesis 3:21 states, "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them."
Genesis 4:4 accounts, "And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering."
The Savior will need to sacrifice blood in order to redeem or buy back sinners.
Genesis 6:8 declares, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."
The Savior is a gift of God's grace.
Genesis 6:13-14a proclaims, "And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark...."
Although humanity is universally sinful and condemned, the Savior is the one way to life.
Genesis 12:2-3 records, "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."
The Savior will come through Abram but will be a blessing to "all families of the earth."
Genesis 14:18 foretells, "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God."
The Savior will be a priest similar in nature to Melchizedek.
Genesis 15:6 chronicles, "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness."
The Savior will impute righteousness to those who believe in Him.
Posts
