In his growing understanding of YHWH, Abraham feels free to question him. In Genesis 15:1, YHWH has just promised Abraham he will greatly reward him, which stirs a question that’s obviously been bothering Abraham about YHWH’s promises, because in verses 2-3 he says, “O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless. You have given me no children, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
It was respectfully asked, in recognition that YHWH was the “Sovereign Lord,” but it was also dawning on Abraham just how intimately concerned YHWH was for him. In a vivid vision in verse 1, YHWH had told him not to be frightened, because he would always be Abraham’s shield. It was a lovely and well-timed encouragement from the great YHWH himself.
But there was still this very practical question bugging Abraham as to how YHWH was going to pull off all those amazing promises through his offspring, when Abraham didn’t have any offspring. The blessing of the entire world hinged on Abraham having a child of his own, so it would be jolly nice if there was some sort of evidence to prove this was all legitimate and real.
So what YHWH does is “take Abraham outside” (5), presumably still in the vision of verse 1, and he tells Abraham to look up at the stars and count them “if indeed you can count them.” Good point. Had Abraham ever done that, actually stop at any time in his life, look up at that vast array of stars that somehow got there, and even think of trying to count them when there were so many?
As Abraham’s eyes take in the vastness of it all, that’s when YHWH chooses the moment to say to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Another good point, because if YHWH could create all those billions of stars, could he not create billions of offspring too? But was that what made Abraham believe YHWH’s promises were legitimate and real? Was that the evidence that convinced him? Or was it YHWH himself?
Because verse 6 simply states, “Abram believed the Lord.” It wasn’t the Lord’s logic about the uncountable number of stars. It was YHWH himself, staring up at the stars with Abraham, who’d brought Abraham to belief – in his amazing ability to see right into Abraham’s mind, and in his intimate love for him know exactly how to get through to him.
But YHWH also had a reason for bringing Abraham to this point, because “What was the result of Abraham’s belief?”….(next blog)
Buck To Basics 