F O O T H O L D
READING
20 DEALING WITH DOUBTS
PRAY Help me to learn what you want to teach me today, Lord.
READ Genesis 15:121
THINK What was God's attitude to Abram's doubts? What does God show
Abram about himself?
FOCUS No Christian is immune from doubts. Abram had his doubts, too. God
had promised him that he would have many descendants (12:2), but
Abram could not see how God's promise could be fulfilled. So he
talked to God. Notice in verses 2 and 3 his humility 'Sovereign
Lord'; his realism 'my slave will inherit'; his honesty he
wanted a son. These are marks of the person who has learned to
pray. God loves us to approach him like this. And he responds. Now
comes the real act of faith. Abram took God at his owed(6); this
is what God loves, for this is what makes us acceptable to him.
Not only does it mean believing that what God says, he will do, it
involves making that belief the basis of the way we live.
But the questioning continues. This time it is not about a son but
about the land (8). The solemn chopping in half of the animals and
birds (9,10) is the way a deeply serious vow used to be made.
Abram fell into a deep sleep and God spoke to him. Notice the
future God promised to Abram's heirs (1316)? Look out for the
fulfilment of this in later readings.
Then when the sun was setting God entered into a covenant with
Abram. Just as with Noah, God took the initiative and made the
promises, telling Abram the territory that would belong to his
descendants. So God took Abram deeper into his purposes. Again
notice how important this idea of 'covenant' between God and his
people is to the themes of the Bible.
PRAY Share your doubts and questions openly, but honestly, with God.
Expect to hear his response.
Index - Foot Hold in the Bible
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 100