The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Genesis 13:1-2,
“So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.”
Moses tells us in a passing comment that Abram had become very wealthy. True to his promises, the Lord blesses Abram. As we will read in further narratives of Genesis the “blessing” becomes a very important aspect of some of the accounts.
Paul observes Abram’s confidence he had in the Lord’s promises made to him. In particular to the promise to make Abram into a large nation Paul says, “Yet he [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:20-21. Abraham was “fully persuaded” in the promises of God and as we read the accounts the fulfillment of those promises was certain.
Paul goes on to tell us it was Abraham’s confidence in the promises of the Lord, his power to fulfill those promises that Abraham was credited righteousness. Paul tells us we are credited with the same righteousness when we are persuaded in the promises of God, that is, in faith. He says, “The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” Romans 4:23-24.
The Lord made a “promise” to Adam, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” Adam acted in a way that demonstrated his doubt in the Lord. But now we have an account of a man, Abraham, who is fully persuaded in the Lord and as such credited righteousness. This righteousness will be purchased by Jesus Christ later on the cross, but Abraham accessed it by faith.
And so it is for all of us. God has provided his certain promise of eternal life. A life of blessing in the resurrection is ours if we embrace that promise of God as Abram did so many years ago.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!
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