And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. Gen. 15:6
Every time I read this verse I still marvel at it’s simplicity. Abram believed and God saw him righteous. He didn’t do anything but, believe the Lord when He took him outside, told him to look up, see the stars and that’s how many descendants he would have. Now looking at the stars from the doorway of a tent in the desert is a lot different than doing it in the city. I mean you can see so many stars a places the sky looks white because there are so many!
And for the finishing touch, notice his name had not been changed to Abraham yet. Abram means exalted father, Abraham means father of many or multitudes. Yet Abram believed God when He just told him he was going to have many descendants. No wonder God saw him as righteous, Abram had nothing to base that promise on except God’s Word.
But here’s the most amazing part, Abram believed him, God saw him as righteous even though he falter in his belief, took matters into his own hands and produced Ishmael before the promise was kept. Him and Sarai, which means chief or ruler, might have gotten impatient, but deep in their hearts they truly did believe in God. They like us just got fearful because of what they were seeing and experiencing. They were both getting older and beyond childbearing years. So God looked on their hearts and still kept His promise to them. And when it was being fulfilled He changed both their names to Abraham and Sarah which means princess. They were living in grace, when it’s not about what you do or don’t do, but rather what only God can do.
Trusting God completely may be simple, but it’s not easy, and God knows that. But remember we too are living in a Covenant of Grace with God. So even when we may grow impatient or run ahead of God, He will still see you as righteous, because you believe in His Son. Don’t let the enemy get the best of you by trying to make you believe if you’ve failed it’s all over. That’s when you need to remind him, he’s the one it’s all over for! Admit your sin and continue to believe and you will see God continue to move on your behalf.
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