Daily Devotions
Genesis
"Save Your people, And bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, And bear them up forever." Psalm 28:9
Text: Genesis 15:1-21
ASKING FOR MORE DETAILS!
As Abram stood in the presence of God, he must have felt a great thrill in his very soul! Surely God would keep His promises! His faith was such that it was commended by God. Deep in his heart, Abram wanted to know more about how God would fulfill the promise that He made. The question that he raised must not be misunderstood as a doubt in his heart.
“And he said, ‘Lord God, how shall I know that
I will inherit it?”GENESIS 15:8
He was not asking for confirmation, as much as he was asking for more details from God as to how He would fulfill His promises!
UNDERSTANDING THE QUESTION OF ABRAM
How do we know that we are on the right track when we interpret Abram’s question in this way? Actually this interpretation arises from a careful study of the context. Consider the following thoughts:-
- God had commended him for his faith. Genesis 15:6
- There was no rebuke given to Abram when he raised the above question. Genesis 15:8
- There was a very full prophetic word of explanation from God to Abram’s query. Genesis 15:9-21
A SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE REVELATION OF GOD HIGHLIGHTED
If God did not give man revelation, of His own accord, he would never be able to know Him well! The following revelation concerning the future of the descendants of Abram is classic prophecy! One of the special things about God’s revelation is its prophetic significance! In this instance, God revealed things would occur four hundred years ahead of time (Genesis 15:9-21)!
A DIFFICULT PROPHETIC LESSON TO MASTER
The lesson that God was going to teach Abram had great depth of significance. It involved the future of the descendants of Abram! In order to help him understand what He was saying at a deeper level, God decided to teach Abram by using an object lesson. Since Abram delighted in the worship of God, the Lord would use his usual worship to reveal events of the future!
Abram was asked to prepare a special worship. In that worship, God would reveal deep but somewhat painful truths concerning the suffering that his descendants would suffer BEFORE they entered into the Promised Land (Genesis 15:9-21)!
How we must heighten our love and regard for the prophetic Word of God!