Today we’re with the key new testament verse about Abram, embodying the very heart of our gospel: ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness’ (Romans 4).
But hold on – that was something God said to somebody struggling in discouragement, doubt, deep, deep depression…?
It’s actually very moving (Genesis 15). Abram has just refused to be made rich by the powers of wickedness (14:23, see last time). He didn’t have any reason to think that would be rewarded, but it is. After that step of real faith God comes to him and says, `I am your very great reward!`- not rewarding Abram with riches now, but with His very self!
Spiritual heights! But, actually…… Abram is feeling far too bad to take it in. Because what he really wants isn’t riches, but a son. `Sovereign Lord, what can you give me, since I remain childless?` And it’s deeply moving, as he repeats it a second time to God: ‘You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.’
And for some of us too that’s the pain of childlessness; for others of us, of singleness.
And the Lord takes him outside and says, Look up, I’m going to meet your need. And Abram somehow raises himself out of his deep depression, by the skin of his teeth, and `believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.` And in the new testament God the Spirit takes out a marker pen and highlights that verse, saying, That’s it: that’s what I’m looking for; that’s the faith that saves.
Faith; although faith that’s just, just hanging on. And only just: the very next thing Abram says to God Himself (but the God he loves) is ‘Sovereign Lord, how can I know…?`
And the Lord answers that too – but the answer involves Abram waiting, waiting, fighting off birds of prey and then falling `into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him…`
Do I want to live by faith? It won’t always be easy. But this is the faith the NT tell us God values; faith’s supreme example. Even though it was faith just hanging on by its fingertips. (Like Jesus on the cross?)
Perhaps especially because of that. Faith that can just about hang on in those situations is the real thing. `All kinds of trials… have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed`(1 Peter 1)… Lord, please help me recognize these times and trust You for what’s going on…
